"The study is a response to a specific problem of producers who perform an imprecise and unreliable flowering sampling in their orchards; it's subjective, time consuming and very expensive," explained Pablo Honeyman, director of the School of Forestry.
The research aims to develop, through the radiometric analysis of field data and hyperspectral imaging, a new monitoring process of the plants' flowering that is accurate, fast and inexpensive in order to determine what applications, treatments, and irrigation programs should be used to handle different Hass avocado orchards.
Javier Cano, the proposal's coordinator, explained that the differential handling and precise application minimizes environmental impact and water consumption.
A field radiometer, a field measurement tool that allows all the plant parts to individually and accurately be characterized, will be used to map the orchards.
Hyperspectral image of Hass avocado orchards
Accurate monitoring
After the plant elements have been characterized, producers will be able to see, from hyperspectral images taken of their orchards from above, the percentage of these plant elements in each batch of their land. "This precise monitoring will allow producers to know where and how much nutrients and water to apply, in order to optimize productivity," said Cano, who added that producers needed to get these maps in a short period of time. "Nutrient applications are made in the first days after peak flowering, thus it's necessary to automate the steps and generate an online system to access the data."
Meanwhile, Honeyman said the project would last two years and had a budget that was over 93 million, 64 percent of which corresponded to the contribution by the FIA. "It will be executed by the U. Mayor, in partnership with the agronomic consulting Gardiazabal and Mena Ltd., and producers Jorge Schmidt and Cia. Ltda., Agricultural Los Lilenes S.A. and Agricultural Barakaldo S.A.," he said.
Source: Diariomayor.cl