Application of Multispectral Cameras for estimating Nitrogen and Grain Yield in Paddy fields

Mohammadmehdi Saberioon1, Asa Gholizadeh2

1Laboratory of Signal and Image Processing, Institute of Complex System, Faculty of Fisheries and Protection of Waters, University of South Bohemia in Ceske Budejovice, Zamek 136, 373 33 Nove Hrady, Czech Republic

2Department of Soil Science and Soil Protection, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, 165 21 Prague, Czech Republic

Nitrogen is an important variable for paddy farming management. Todays several methods are available for monitoring the nitrogen content of rice during its various growth stages. However, monitoring still requires a quick, simple, accurate and inexpensive technique that needs to be developed. In this study, Tetracam Agriculture Digital Camera, as a re-engineered multispectral camera, was used to acquire high spatial and temporal resolution images to determine the status of nitrogen and predict the grain yield of rice (Oryza sativa L.). Twelve pots of rice were subjected to four different N treatments (0, 125, 175 and 250 kg ha ). Three replicates were arranged in a randomized complete block design to determine the status of N and predict rice yield. The images were captured at different growth stages (i.e., tillering, panicle initiation, booting and heading stage) of rice in each pot. Nitrogen and grain yield were significantly correlated with Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) (R = 0.78) and Green Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (GNDVI) (R = 0.88), especially at the panicle initiation and booting stages, respectively. The study demonstrated the suitability of using the Tetracam images as a sensor for estimating chlorophyll content and N. Moreover, the findings showed that the images revealed their potential use in forecasting grain yield at different growth stages of rice.