National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO) has developed an observation method that utilizes downwash airflow of drone to capture images of each plant while the drone flew over the rows of strawberry crops. By utilizing this method, the images of the growing point of each plant can be recorded, which is necessary for diagnosing strawberry growth and predicting yields. This research result makes it possible to efficiently obtain information on the emergence and growth of leaves on many plants in a greenhouse. Hence this is expected to contribute to more efficient strawberry production.
Overview
NARO has previously demonstrated that the frequency of young leaf emergence and time-series changes in the size of young leaves at different leaf positions are effective indicators for diagnosing the growth in strawberry forcing culture. To understand these time-series changes, it is necessary to obtain image information of the growing point. However, it is not an easy task since the growing point of strawberries is often covered by leaves. In addition, while it is effective to observe the condition of as many plants as possible for growth diagnosis, it is not possible to obtain location information using satellite positioning inside a greenhouse like outdoors. As a result, it is difficult to identify specific plants from among many other plants and compare the same plants over time.
Therefore, NARO envisioned using a drone inside a greenhouse and flew it over rows of strawberry crops. The drone used the downwash, a downward air current caused by the flight, to push aside the clusters, exposing the growing points while taking moving images, and developed observation method that uses the footage to record images of each stalk.
This result makes it possible to identify individual plants, which will enable the observation of the emergence of young leaves and subsequent growth for each plant in a labor-saving manner. We are currently developing an automated system for growth diagnosis and yield prediction using images recorded by this method, which is expected to contribute to improving the efficiency of strawberry production, including cultivation management, environmental control, and labor and shipping plans.
The results of this research will be exhibited at the U-22 booth in "Greenhouse Horticulture & Plant Factory Exhibition / Conference 2024 (GPEC)" to be held from July 24 to 26, 2024.
