ABSTRACT:Differencing between green cover and grape canopy is a challenge for vigour status evaluation in viticulture. This paper presents the acquisition methodology of very high-resolution images (4 cm), using a Sensefly Swinglet CAM unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and their processing to construct a 3D digital surface model (DSM) for the creation of precise digital terrain models (DTM). The DTM was obtained using python processing libraries. The DTM was then subtracted to the DSM in order to obtain a differential digital model (DDM) of a vineyard. In the DDM, the vine pixels were then obtained by selecting all pixels with an elevation higher than 50 [cm] above the ground level. The results show that it was possible to separate pixels from the green cover and the vine rows. The DDM showed values between -0.1 and + 1.5 [m]. A manually delineation of polygons based on the RGB image belonging to the green cover and to the vine rows gave a highly significant differences with an average value of 1.23 [m] and 0.08 [m] for the vine and the ground respectively. The vine rows elevation is in good accordance with the topping height of the vines 1.35 [m] measured on the field. This mask could be used to analyse images of the same plot taken at different times. The extraction of only vine pixels will facilitate subsequent analyses, for example, a supervised classification of these pixels.
Permanent tree crop agriculture and multi-strata agroforestry are among the most promising options for the agricultural use of the mostly nutrient-poor and physically fragile soils of central Amazonia. In general, though, information on the optimum management of local tree crops under these conditions is inadequate. Annatto (Bixa orellana) is a small tree of tropical American origin whose seeds contain a non-toxic, carotenoid dye that is used widely in food and cosmetic products. The authors studied seed yields at ages four to seven years, biomass at seven years, nutrient accumulation and mineral nutrition of annatto trees growing in multi-strata agroforestry with different inputs of fertilizer and lime on a xanthic Ferralsol in central Amazonia. Leaf samples of three age classes were collected four times during one year, and nutrient concentrations were related to soil nutrient status, growth and yield of the trees in order to develop an optimum sampling scheme for foliar analysis. Growth and yields of the trees showed a pronounced response to increased fertilizer and lime input, which seemed to be due mainly to improved availability of phosphorus. Nitrogen fertilizer had no effect and may not be necessary for well-established trees on this soil. High litter quality and substantial nutrient recycling with annual pruning make annatto a valuable component for agroforestry systems. In this experiment, however, yields were low and decreased after the fifth year, presumably as an effect of infertile soil, shading by larger trees and, possibly, a negative effect of the drastic annual pruning with removal of the entire leaf and small-branch biomass on the vitality of the trees. Annatto is probably best suited for associations with small tree crops. Less drastic pruning treatments than those practiced in this experiment may be preferable.
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