Barley & Wheat Trials
The Goal
This investigation aimed to assess the efficacy of multiple agricultural treatments, encompassing fertilizer formulations, fungicide dose-response curves, and rock weathering applications, across over 100 trial plots of barley and wheat.
The Approach
To scientifically assess the effects of the treatments, we measured and recorded visual and quantitative distinctions among treatment variants, enabling rigorous evaluation of performance outcomes across all five trial configurations. Like any good scientific experiment, it is crucial to use the right equipment, methodologies, and analytic tools to gain actionable insight.
Hardware Selection
The mission utilized a Matrice 350 RTK drone configured for dual-payload operations, featuring a MicaSense RedEdge-P multispectral sensor and a Zenmuse P1 RGB camera to enable high-resolution multispectral and RGB imaging.
Data Collection
The customer engaged one of our certified pilots to conduct aerial surveys, capturing data across RGB and multispectral bands (Blue, Green, Red, Red-Edge, and Near-Infrared) for detailed vegetation analysis over 100+ trial plots. Sun sensors and calibration panels were employed to ensure consistent accuracy under varying environmental conditions.
Analysis
Multiple vegetation indices and metrics were derived from the imagery to provide comprehensive treatment evaluation:
Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI)
Calculated from the MicaSense RedEdge-P's Red and Near-Infrared bands to assess vegetation health and vigor across all treatment plots.
Leaf Area Index (LAI)
Derived from the Zenmuse P1's high-resolution RGB imagery to quantify crop cover and density via leaf surface area, providing insight into crop development stage and treatment response.
Biomass Estimation
Calculated from the Zenmuse P1's precise spatial data using photogrammetric crop height models, correlating crop structure with above-ground biomass to predict yield potential.
The Results
Rapid, Cost-Effective, and Objective Analysis
Delivered comprehensive NDVI, LAI, and biomass metrics across 100+ plots and 5 trial types in a single flight—achieving in hours what traditional ground sampling takes days, at a fraction of the cost, while providing statistically robust, spatially explicit, and repeatable data that eliminates subjective assessments.
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