Hyper-näring: Hyperspectral tools for monitoring fertilization efficiency in cereals
Project overview
Participants
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Short summary
The project focuses on assessing non-invasive solutions for the nutritional diagnosis of wheat crops using portable hyperspectral imaging devices.
Evaluating the potential of this technology for identifying the nutrient distribution within plants will support future development of more accessible tools for farmers to monitor nutrient needs of crops.
Background
Cereals are a primary source of carbohydrates in the diet, providing energy and nutrition to the population and playing an essential role in ensuring food security. They contribute significantly to the economy by generating income for farmers, providing raw materials for various food industries, and being a vital component of animal feed. In Sweden, circa of 40% of the total arable lands are occupied with cereals, representing the second highest agricultural land use. Over 50% of these cereals are wheat, followed by barley and oats.
Fertilizers provide essential nutrients for plant growth, such as nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). Imbalanced, inappropriate, or excessive fertilizer use in agricultural systems cause substantial environmental costs and economic risks. In general, efficient fertilizer management is crucial to address these issues and promote sustainable agriculture, as highlighted in the Farm to Fork strategy developed by the European Union.
Spectral sensors (e.g., sensors attached to satellites, drones, field spectrometers, and other devices) have offer fast and non-destructive solutions for nutritional diagnosis. However, there is a need to develop more tools based on high-performance sensors, such as portable hyperspectral cameras. These cameras provide images at a very high spectral resolution.
Project description
The project aims to improve fertilization efficiency by non-invasive nutritional evaluation of cereals using portable hyperspectral imaging cameras. The specific objectives are:
- Assess the nutritional status (e.g., N, P, K, S and Mg) of wheat using portable hyperspectral cameras in a controlled environment.
- Develop the use of portable hyperspectral cameras for plant nutritional diagnosis in different field conditions.
- Explore the potential for developing an imaging-based system for on-farm use.
Collaboration
This project is a collaboration between research groups of the Department of Crop Production Ecology at SLU.