Snapshot Hyperspectral Imaging for Field Data Acquisition in Agriculture (in Raspberry Plantation)

A snapshot spectral camera with more than 100 spectral channels was used and tested. A native snapshot imaging spectrometer captures all spectra and the entire image at the same time without any time delay. It enables this imaging system to capture motion pictures and producing hyperspectral videos. In our horticulture study a snapshot camera was applied to spectrally document, map and characterize a raspberry plantation under differently coloured shade nets to analyse usability, flexibility and to record spectro-phenological parameters. Leading raspberry producers are located in Eastern Europe and contribute at least 80% of the world's raspberry production (FAOSTAT, 2016). Due to agricultural climate change scenarios raspberry plantations are at risk because evapotranspiration will be challenged by solar radiation and temperature changes. We concluded that spectral field data acquisition and length of data evaluation could be significantly reduced by snapshot spectral imaging

Spectral separation of different nutrient levels in winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) at characteristic wavelengths

The rapidly growing demand toward data and information cannot be satisfied any longer by the conventional sampling methods. There has been a need for a measuring technology that provides broad opportunities of evaluating local or global processes or balances according to the various aspects. The dynamic development of the different remote sensing technologies resulted in the hyperspectral imaging spectroscopy, which is one of the most advanced technologies in optical remote sensing. It has greatly improved the efficiency of data utilization and created new perspective for modern information management in precision agricultural production. With the adaptation of the hyperspectral technology different quantity and quality parameters can be measured in a fast, precise and economic way. This technology is adequate to analyse vegetation cover by evaluating average radiance spectra of the electromagnetic radiation reflected from their surfaces. Reflectance spectra of vegetation cover depend on the absorption and transmission characteristics of the surface cover. In this study, we analyse samples of variously treated winter wheat using FieldSpec 3 MAX spectroradiometer in the wavelength range of 350 nm to 2500 nm. The experimental arrangement was set by broadcasting different nutrition levels applied on 10 m2 replicated field plots, which were studied according to different parameters. Beyond the spectral analysis, we evaluated correlations including additional parameters, such as plant height (cm), ear size (cm), yield (kg/10m2) and quality parameters to make comparations. According to the preliminary results, certain characteristic spectral intervals of the samples showed reflectance differences due to the various nutrient supply. After clarifying all decisive correlation, the spectral methodology can greatly assist in describing and tracking the current dynamics of nutrient supply and plant up-take, both of which are indispensable to perform precision nutrient-supply being one of the most important factors in assisting in the environment protection or reducing expenses of farming

Hyperspectral Imaging and Reflectance Spectroscopy as Prospective Key Factors in Modern Site Specific Agricultural Production

Spectroscopy studies the interaction between electromagnetic radiation and matter. The method of evaluating the spectral characteristics of different biotic or abiotic materials and surfaces originates in the laboratory spectroscopy, where it was used in physical and analytical chemistry hence atoms and molecules have unique spectra. Today the technological development has made possible to carry out high spectral resolution in-field analysis and airborne hyperspectral imaging. This technology also creates new perspective for information management in site specific agricultural production. In this study we are introducing the technological basis of reflectance spectroscopy and hyperspectral imaging with some experimental results in modern agriculture

Determination of mechanical and energetic properties of Reed Canary Grass pellets production

Authors of the article are evaluating characteristics of half‑operational experimental agro‑pellets production. The problems of production and use of agro‑pellets is the current issue. It’s a way to apply part of the agricultural production in the market. It is also an opportunity to replace part of the fossil fuels and increase the share of renewables. But the use of phytomass is bringing many problems. First, it is important that the manufactured products will be succeeded on the raw materials market. Agro‑pellets therefore must have characteristics that support their competitiveness and allow their classification. The advantage comes if the agro‑pellets properties are comparable with traditional fuels and their combustion is possible in standard boilers. This objective can be achieved in several ways. The production of mixed fuels is one from the possible ways. Phytomass is pressed into pellet form in a mixture with other raw materials, usually based on powder coal or wood. The advantage of mixed fuels production is the ability to influence the final properties according to market demands and requirements of legislation. The research activity results, which are given in the text, were aimed at the possibility of Reed Canary Grass applying as part of a mixed fuel in various concentrations. The pellets are based on Reed Canary Grass and wooden biomass in the form of saw‑dust. Addition of sawdust has negative influence on the presser productivity, but has a positive impact on mechanical and burning qualities of final products. Mechanical durability values of pellets were increased by 4.8 and 3.0% with the sawdust addition. The specific weight of pellets was increased even by 31.9%. Hand in hand with the raising amount of sawdust in pellets, the decline of CO emissions in exhaust gas was provenVytauto Didžiojo universitetasŽemės ūkio akademij

Advances in Remote Sensing applications in site-specific plant production

The objective of this paper is to present an overview of applied remote sensing technologies in agriculture and biosystems engineering in the last decade. Satellite based remote sensing applications were - and still are - applied whereas airborne applications and UAV technology were also in the focus of our late research interest. Various sensors were applied for different purposes: multispectral images from satellite platforms as well as a hyperspectral imaging system operated on an airplane was investigated in the early phase of our monitoring work. Recently multispectral imaging in RGB and NIR channels have been applied on various UAV's. The aim of the research in the early stages were to determine the role of multispectral and hyperspectral based vegetationindices for prodicting yield and grain quality of spring barley in Hungary. Spring barley is commonly used as a raw material for beer production. In order to fulfil the quality expectations of the beer industry, grain protein content prediction and measurement plays an important role in spring barley production and marketability. Multispectral vegetation indices were based on Landsat satellite images, meanwhile hyperspectral indices were based on AISA DUAL Airborne Hyperspectral Imaging Systems. In order to be able to compare data with the calculated indices, yield data was collected during harvest (AgroCom Terminal and Yield Mapping System). Quality data (protein content) was collected by two methods: (a) by band in a systematic grid and analyzed in a laboratory; (b) during harvest by Zeltex On-Combine Grain Analyzer. All collected data was converted to 25 by 25 m and 1 by 1 m pixel size maps by means of interpolation techniques (ArcGIS). Results showed that prediction of grain quality compared to Quantity was achievable with higher confidence in both cases. Correlation between multispectral vegetation indices and yield was in the best case r=-0.5854/n=206/, meanwhile between hyperspectral vegetation indices and yield correlation showed much lower correlation. At the same time correlation between multispectral vegetation indices and grain protein content was r=-0,8118/n=206/, while between hyperspectral vegetation indices and protein content /hand collected samples/ the best result was r=-0.5033. An Airborne measurement campaing war carried out in 2009, where for precision crop production, images were collected prior to harvest in July, and site specific data collection was carried out in order to collect field data about winter wheat yield as well asprotein content. Data collected during harvest by means of on-line sensors was interpolated into the same resolution map as the hyperspectral image. Later a second hyperspectral image was taken with the aim of investigation of the applicability of the technology for soil management. At the same time soil samples were collected from an approximately 16 hectare field. Soil moisture measurement was carried out by means of gravimetric and TDR methods. Furthermore, apparent soil electrical conductivity (ECa) was measured by Veris Techniologies on-line ECa mapping instrument. Geostatistical analysis was carried out in order to compare the different data layers. In the last five years interest in UAV's as carriers has grown enormously worldwide, while sensor technology is developing rapidly. Images during a winter wheat vegetation period and maize vegetation period were taken by mean of RGB and multiSPEC 4C multispectral imaging system (Airinov Inc.). UAV based images were compared with various data collected during the vegetation periods. In the last part of the paper results of UAV based image analysis are reported

Effects of Temperature and Pressure on Hemp Oil Filtration Parameters and Peroxide Number

This article focuses on the quality of hemp oil processing, specifically the filtration that is an important part of the technological procedure of processing vegetable oils. The aim of the research was to determine the effects of pressure and temperature on the filtration parameters when using plate filters. The research was carried out on an experimental measuring device with adjustable static pressure. The qualitative properties of the oil were observed in terms of analytical composition, microbial content, and changes in peroxide value as the indicator of oxidation stability. The change in pressure affected the oil flow rate, especially at lower pressure values. The increase in temperature of the filtered oil had a negative impact on the oxidation stability

Continuous field soil moisture content mapping by means of apparent electrical conductivity (ECa) measurement

Abstract A soil moisture content map is important for providing information about the distribution of moisture in a given area. Moisture content directly influences agricultural yield thus it is crucial to have accurate and reliable information about moisture distribution and content in the field. Since soil is a porous medium modified generalized Archie’s equation provides the basic formula to calculate moisture content data based on measured ECa. In this study we aimed to find a more accurate and cost effective method for measuring moisture content than manual field sampling. Locations of 25 sampling points were chosen from our research field as a reference. We assumed that soil moisture content could be calculated by measuring apparent electrical conductivity (ECa) using the Veris-3100 on-the-go soil mapping tool. Statistical analysis was carried out on the 10.791 ECa raw data in order to filter the outliers. The applied statistical method was ±1.5 interquartile (IRQ) distance approach. The visualization of soil moisture distribution within the experimental field was carried out by means of ArcGIS/ArcMAP using the inverse distance weighting interpolation method. In the investigated 25 sampling points, coefficient of determination between calculated volumetric moisture content data and measured ECa was R2 = 0.87. According to our results, volumetric moisture content can be mapped by applying ECa measurements in these particular soil types.</jats:p