UAS-based multi-angular remote sensing of the effects of soil management strategies on grapevine
Rebecca Retzlaff,
Daniel Molitor,
Marc Behr,
Christian Bossung,
Gilles Rock,
Lucien Hoffmann,
Danièle Evers,
Thomas Udelhoven
Affiliations
Rebecca Retzlaff
Universität Trier,
FB VI – Geography/Geosciences,
Environmental Remote Sensing and Geoinformatics,
Campus II, Behringstrasse 21,
D-54286 Trier,
Germany
Daniel Molitor
Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST), Department "Environmental Research and Innovation (ERIN)", 41, rue du Brill, L-4422 Belvaux, Luxembourg; University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Department of Crop Sciences, Division of Viticulture and Pomology, Konrad Lorenz Str. 24, A-3430 Tulln, Austria
Marc Behr
Environmental Research and Innovation Department, LIST – Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology, 41, rue du Brill, L-4422 Belvaux, Luxembourg
Christian Bossung
Universität Trier,
FB VI – Geography/Geosciences,
Environmental Remote Sensing and Geoinformatics,
Campus II, Behringstrasse 21,
D-54286 Trier,
Germany
Gilles Rock
Universität Trier,
FB VI – Geography/Geosciences,
Environmental Remote Sensing and Geoinformatics,
Campus II, Behringstrasse 21,
D-54286 Trier,
Germany
Lucien Hoffmann
Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST), Department "Environmental Research and Innovation (ERIN)", 41, rue du Brill, L-4422 Belvaux, Luxembourg
Danièle Evers
Environmental Research and Innovation Department, LIST – Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology, 41, rue du Brill, L-4422 Belvaux, Luxembourg
Thomas Udelhoven
Universität Trier,
FB VI – Geography/Geosciences,
Environmental Remote Sensing and Geoinformatics,
Campus II, Behringstrasse 21,
D-54286 Trier,
Germany;
Environmental Research and Innovation Department,
LIST – Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology,
41, rue du Brill,
L-4422 Belvaux,
Luxembourg
Aims: The present investigation in a Luxembourgish vineyard aimed at evaluating the potential of multispectral, multi-angular UAS (unmanned aerial system) imagery to separate four soil management strategies, to predict physiological variables (chlorophyll, nitrogen, yield etc.) and to follow seasonal changes in grapevine physiology in relation to soil management. Methods and results: Multi-angular (nadir and 45° off-nadir) multispectral imageries (530-900 nm) were taken in the years 2011 and 2012. Image grey values and reflectance-derived vegetation indices were computed and canopy and vigour properties were monitored in the field. All four soil management strategies could be significantly discriminated (box-plots, linear discriminant analysis) and vegetation properties estimated (linear regression) in 2011. For 2012, global models predicted chlorophyll contents and nitrogen balance index values with a R²cv of 0.65 and 0.76, respectively. Conclusions: Soil management strategies strongly affect plant vigour and reflectance. Differences were best detectable by oblique visible/near-infrared (Vis/nIR) UAS data of illuminated canopies. Significance and impact of the study: UAS imaging is a flexible tool for applications in precision viticulture.
