Exploring the Potential of High Resolution Satellite Imagery for Yield Prediction of Avocado and Mango Crops

Author(s)
Rahman, Moshiur
Robson, Andrew
Salgadoe, Surantha
Walsh, Kerry
Bristow, Mila
Publication Date
2020-04-07
Abstract
Accurate pre-harvest yield estimation of high value fruit tree crops provides a range of benefits to industry and growers. Currently, yield estimation in Avocado (<i>Persea americana</i>) and Mango (<i>Mangifera indica</i>) orchards is undertaken by a visual count of a limited number of trees. However, this method is labour intensive and can be highly inaccurate if the sampled trees are not representative of the spatial variability occurring across the orchard. This study evaluated the accuracies of high resolution WorldView (WV) 2 and 3 satellite imagery and targeted field sampling for the pre-harvest prediction of yield. A stratified sampling technique was applied in each block to measure relevant yield parameters from eighteen sample trees representing high, medium and low vigour zones (6 from each) based on classified normalised difference vegetation index (NDVI) maps. For avocado crops, principal component analysis (PCA) and non-linear regression analysis were applied to 18 derived vegetation indices (VIs) to determine the index with the strongest relationship to the measured yield parameters. For mango, an integrated approach of geometric (tree crown area) and optical (spectral vegetation indices) data using artificial neural network (ANN) model produced more accurate predictions. The results demonstrate that accurate maps of yield variability and total orchard yield can be achieved from WV imagery and targeted sampling; whilst accurate maps of fruit size and the incidence of phytophthora can also be achieved in avocado. These outcomes offer improved forecasting than currently adopted practices and therefore offer great benefit to both the avocado and mango industries.
Citation
Proceedings, 36(1), p. 1-1
ISSN
2504-3900
Link
Publisher
MDPI AG
Rights
Attribution 4.0 International
Title
Exploring the Potential of High Resolution Satellite Imagery for Yield Prediction of Avocado and Mango Crops
Type of document
Conference Publication
Entity Type
Publication

Files:

NameSizeformatDescriptionLink
openpublished/ExploringRahmanRobsonSalgadoe2019ConferenceExtract.pdf 143.715 KB application/pdf Published version View document