Progress 01/01/12 to 12/31/12
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The project generated outputs in the form of presentations at different venues attended by producers, extension agents, students, and researchers. Presentations were delivered at LSU AgCenter Sugar Research Station's Field Day, American Society of Sugar Cane Technologists Annual Meeting, 8th European Conference on Precision Agriculture, Nitrogen Use Efficiency Workshops, and ASA-CSSA-SSSA International Annual Meeting. This information was published in annual reports, proceedings, and conference abstracts. One Ph.D. student was partially supported by this project and is expected to graduate in May 2013. A survey determined the perception of sugarcane producers on remote sensing technology and in general, their criteria for full-scale adoption of new production technology. PARTICIPANTS: Brenda Tubana (PI), Sonny Viator, Jasper Teboh, Yumiko Kanke, LSU AgCenter. TARGET AUDIENCES: Target audiences include producers, consultants, extension agents, researchers/scientists and general public who are interested in production agriculture and environmental science. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: In Louisiana, sugarcane is commonly established in late summer. First harvest is done in December of the next year. In late summer of 2009, sugarcane was planted in preparation for this project that started in 2010. However establishment was delayed because of the excessive moisture in the field brought about by unusually high cumulative rainfall in the area. In effect, the trials were established only at two sites (Iberia and Iberville Parish).
Impacts
Sugarcane nitrogen response trials were established at St. Gabriel and Jeanerette, LA using the most prevalent cane varieties in Louisiana sugarcane industry. Combining two years of data, a linear relationship was established between biomass and NDVI and SR computed from red, red-edge, and near infrared bands. There were significant differences on the geometrical canopy structure among cane varieties based on their foliar angle index (ratio of the total length of leaf to length leaf opening) values. The association of biomass and these vegetation indices declined at later sampling times for a variety with a foliar angle index value close to 1 (droopy-leaf canopy structure - L99-226). As for sugarcane varieties, HoCP 96-540 and L01-283, with higher foliar angle index (pointy, upright canopy), this observation was not evident. A stronger linear relationship was obtained between vegetation indices and biomass weight as the canopy structure of the cane became more erectophile. Including height as one of the predictive variables substantially improved the ability of NDVI to predict cane biomass. A survey obtained responses from 76 sugarcane producers representing 130,000 acres (1/3 of the sugarcane acreage) in Louisiana. Profitability and cost of investment for new production technology are the main driving forces for adoption of precision farming strategies. In addition, enhanced adoption of new technology would rely on increases in cane tonnage (5 tons/A) or sugar yield (1000 lbs/A). Among these respondents, 71% confirmed that N remains the major nutrient of concern in sugarcane production. Less than 50% of these respondents own a variable rate applicator or a GPS unit. A small fraction (21%) showed awareness on remote sensing technology and 67% showed interest in using variable rate fertilizer technology. There were several means to increase sensitivity of monitoring sugarcane N health status through remote sensing technology: 1) use of more sensitive vegetation indices to address saturation problem in cane canopies, and 2) introduce geometrical canopy structure and height in interpretation of the data. The outcome of this project will provide a fundamental understanding on the potential use of remote sensing technology towards the development and adoption of remote sensor-based decision tools for managing N fertilizer in sugarcane production systems. Outreach efforts will facilitate the adoption of remote sensing technology in sugarcane production in Louisiana.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/10 to 12/31/12
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The project generated outputs in the form of presentations at different venues attended by producers, extension agents, students, and researchers. Presentations were delivered at LSU AgCenter Sugar Research Station's Field Day, American Society of Sugar Cane Technologists Annual Meeting, 8th European Conference on Precision Agriculture, Nitrogen Use Efficiency Workshops, and ASA-CSSA-SSSA International Annual Meeting. This information was published in annual reports, proceedings, and conference abstracts. One Ph.D. student was partially supported by this project and is expected to graduate in May 2013. A survey determined the perception of sugarcane producers on remote sensing technology and in general, their criteria for full-scale adoption of new production technology. PARTICIPANTS: Brenda Tubana (PI), Sonny Viator, Jasper Teboh, Yumiko Kanke, LSU AgCenter. TARGET AUDIENCES: Target audiences include producers, consultants, extension agents, researchers/scientists and general public who are interested in production agriculture and environmental science. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: In Louisiana, sugarcane is commonly established in late summer. First harvest is done in December of the next year. In late summer of 2009, sugarcane was planted in preparation for this project that started in 2010. However establishment was delayed because of the excessive moisture in the field brought about by unusually high cumulative rainfall in the area. In effect, the trials were established only at two sites (Iberia and Iberville Parish).
Impacts
Sugarcane nitrogen response trials were established at St. Gabriel and Jeanerette, LA using the most prevalent cane varieties in Louisiana sugarcane industry. Combining two years of data, a linear relationship was established between biomass and NDVI and SR computed from red, red-edge, and near infrared bands. There were significant differences on the geometrical canopy structure among cane varieties based on their foliar angle index (ratio of the total length of leaf to length leaf opening) values. The association of biomass and these vegetation indices declined at later sampling times for a variety with a foliar angle index value close to 1 (droopy-leaf canopy structure - L99-226). As for sugarcane varieties, HoCP 96-540 and L01-283, with higher foliar angle index (pointy, upright canopy), this observation was not evident. A stronger linear relationship was obtained between vegetation indices and biomass weight as the canopy structure of the cane became more erectophile. Including height as one of the predictive variables substantially improved the ability of NDVI to predict cane biomass. A survey obtained responses from 76 sugarcane producers representing 130,000 acres (1/3 of the sugarcane acreage) in Louisiana. Profitability and cost of investment for new production technology are the main driving forces for adoption of precision farming strategies. In addition, enhanced adoption of new technology would rely on increases in cane tonnage (5 tons/A) or sugar yield (1000 lbs/A). Among these respondents, 71% confirmed that N remains the major nutrient of concern in sugarcane production. Less than 50% of these respondents own a variable rate applicator or a GPS unit. A small fraction (21%) showed awareness on remote sensing technology and 67% showed interest in using variable rate fertilizer technology. There were several means to increase sensitivity of monitoring sugarcane N health status through remote sensing technology: 1) use of more sensitive vegetation indices to address saturation problem in can canopies, and 2) introduce geometrical canopy structure and height in interpretation of the data. The outcome of this project will provide a fundamental understanding on the potential use of remote sensing technology towards the development and adoption of remote sensor-based decision tools for managing N fertilizer in sugarcane production systems. Outreach efforts will facilitate the adoption of remote sensing technology in sugarcane production in Louisiana.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/11 to 12/31/11
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The project generated outputs in the form of presentations at several venues attended by producers, extension agents, students, and researchers. Presentations were delivered at LSU AgCenter Sugar Research Station's Field Day, American Society of Sugar Cane Technologists Annual Meeting, 8th European Conference on Precision Agriculture, and the ASA-CSSA-SSSA International Annual Meeting. Dissemination of information was accomplished through publications of results in annual reports, proceedings, and abstracts. PARTICIPANTS: Brendy Tubana (PI), S. Viator, J. Teboh, Y. Kanke, and J. Lofton, LSU AgCenter. TARGET AUDIENCES: Target audiences include producers, consultants, extension agents, researchers/scientists and general public who are interested in production agriculture and environmental science. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
Sugarcane trials were continued at two sites (St. Gabriel and Jeanerette, LA) using four nitrogen (N) rates (0, 40, 80, and 120 lbs/A) and the three most prevalent cane varieties in Louisiana (HoCP 96-540, L99-226 and L01-283) as treatments. The outcomes of this project provide a fundamental understanding on the potential use of remote sensing technology towards the development and adoption of remote sensor-based decision tools specifically managing N fertilizer in Louisiana sugarcane production systems. Different wavelengths of the color spectrum, red edge and near infrared regions, obtained the highest association with biomass across varieties with correlation coefficient (r) values ranging from 0.73 to 0.93. Several indices using these wavebands showed that simple ratio (SR), normalize difference vegetation index (NDVI), and perpendicular vegetation index (PVI) using the red and red edge wavebands established high associations with biomass across varieties three weeks after nitrogen fertilization. The associations of biomass and these vegetation indices declined at later sampling times in varieties with wider leaf angle and shorter stature (droopy-leaf canopy structure - L99-226). This observation was not evident for the variety with narrow leaf angle and taller stature (erect-leaf canopy structure - HoCP 96-540). Categorizing variety according to canopy structure improved the accuracy of the biomass predictive model. Integrating canopy height in the model substantially improved the ability of NDVI to predict cane biomass. Non-destructive evaluation of sugarcane N health status addresses the need to improve nitrogen use efficiency in sugarcane production in Louisiana through provisions of robust N fertilization guidelines. In addition, a survey determined the perception of sugarcane producers on remote sensing technology, their criteria for full-scale adoption of new production technology. The survey obtained responses from 76 sugarcane producers farming an estimated total area of 130,000 acres (1/3 of the Louisiana sugarcane acreage). The profitability and cost of investment for new production technology are main driving forces for adoption. Enhanced adoption of new technology relies on assured increase in cane tonnage (5 tons/A) or sugar yield (1000 lbs/A). Among these respondents, 71% confirmed that nitrogen remains the major nutrient of concern in sugarcane production. Less than 50% of these respondents own a variable rate applicator or a GPS unit. A small fraction (21%) showed awareness on remote sensing technology and 67% showed interest in using variable rate technology. Conducting extension and outreach programs may address the lack of producers' awareness on several precision agriculture-based technologies such as remote sensing.
Publications
- Kanke, Y., J. Lofton, J. Teboh, M. Dalen, P. Jaa, H. Viator, and B. Tubana. 2011. Relationship of sugarcane biomass and nitrogen uptake with canopy reflectance at different nitrogen fertilizer rates. ASA-CSSA-SSSA International Annual Meetings. 16-19 October, San Antonio, TX.
- Kanke, Y., H. Viator, J. Lofton, J. Kraska, J. Teboh, and B. Tubana. 2011. Quantitative relationship of sugarcane biomass and canopy reflectance as a function of nitrogen supply. In 8th European Conference on Precision Agriculture. Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic. July 11-14, 2011.
- B. Tubana, H. Viator, J. Teboh, J. Lofton, and Y. Kanke. 2011. Feasibility of using remote sensing technology in nitrogen management in sugarcane production. In ASSCT Abstracts. American Society of Sugar Cane Technologists Joint Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA, June 8-10, 2011.
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Progress 01/01/10 to 12/31/10
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The application of remote sensing technology in nitrogen management for sugarcane production in Louisiana was introduced by the principal investigator through her presentation at the American Society of Sugar Cane Technologist - Louisiana Division Annual Meeting. The importance of optimal nitrogen supply to maximize sugar yield was also presented at the ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting. PARTICIPANTS: The principal investigator of this project was Dr. Brenda Tubana, Assistant Professor,Sch. Plant, Environmental and Soil Sciences, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center. Collaborators included Dr. Sonny Viator, Professor - New Iberia Research Station, LSU AgCenter; Jasper Teboh, Research Associate - Sch. Plant, Environmental and Soil Sciences, LSU AgCenter; Yumiko Kanke and Josh Lofton - Graduate Student, Sch. Plant, Environmental and Soil Sciences, LSU AgCenter. TARGET AUDIENCES: Target audiences include producers, consultants, extension agents, researchers/scientists and general public who are interested in production agriculture and environmental science. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
From the support of this project, sugarcane trials were established at two sites with four nitrogen rates (0, 40, 80, and 120 lbs/A) and three most prevalent cane varieties in Louisiana (HoCP 96-540, L99-226 and L01-283) as treatments. Field data including biomass clippings, tiller counts, and sensor readings were collected on a weekly basis for four weeks starting at two weeks after nitrogen fertilization. Cane and sugar yields, nitrogen concentrations in biomass and nitrogen uptake by cane were also determined. These data were used to evaluate the relationships of canopy reflectance at specific wavelengths in the visible and near infrared regions of the spectrum and different vegetation indices with sugarcane agronomic variables. Based on nonlinear regression analyses, two of the vegetation indices tested showed potential use for non-destructive biomass estimation for sugarcane. Both normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and simple ratio (SR) computed from sugarcane canopy reflectance within the red and near infrared regions of the spectrum had strong logarithmic relationships with biomass at 5 weeks after N fertilization. At least 50% of the variability in biomass can be explained by NDVI and SR. The analysis also showed that the relationships of NDVI and SR with biomass were influenced by cane variety. The relationships of these two vegetation indices with biomass were improved when separated by variety. The red edge position (REP) in the spectrum also showed good association (r2 = 0.47) with biomass at 5 weeks after N fertilization but was not dependent on cane variety as opposed to NDVI and SR. The relationships of biomass for all sampling times with cane and sugar yield were weak and not significant. These observations were reflected in the relationships (no/very weak) of NDVI, SR and canopy reflectance at REP with cane and sugar yields. The chlorophyll meter readings had no relationship with %N in biomass at 3 weeks after N fertilization but obtained weak relationships at later sampling dates. These findings suggest that the effect of N fertilizer to sugarcane may require more than two weeks to obtain observable differences on measured biomass (and N uptake) and canopy reflectance readings. Further, standardizing canopy architecture effect on reflectance readings and vegetation indices has potential to improve sugarcane biomass and yield prediction models using remote sensing technology. Non-destructive evaluation of sugarcane N health status may address the need for more robust fertilizer guidelines to increase nitrogen use efficiency in sugarcane production in Louisiana.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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