Yellow Flowers of Canola Have Information Useful for Predicting Yield

YELLOW FLOWERS OF CANOLA HAVE INFORMATION USEFUL FOR PREDICTING YIELD

Dan Long, Research Leader USDA-ARS Soil and Water Conservation Research Unit Pendleton, OR

FLOWER PETALS: SIGNAL OR NOISE?

INDEX SENSITIVITY TO YELLOW FLOWERS

INFLUENCE OF FLOWERS 0.5

0.4

Statistic Flowers Mean Flowers SD No Flowers Mean No Flowers SD

Reflectance

0.3

n = 36 G

0.2

0.1

0.0

400

B

500

600

Wavelength (nm)

700

800

Per unit area: Higher G/B ratio = more flowers = more pods = more seed yield

GREEN/BLUE = MORE FLOWERS

YIELD COMPONENTS OF CANOLA

http://www.canolacouncil.org/crop-production/canola-grower's-manual-contents/chapter-1-the-basis-of-canola-yields/the-basis-of-canola-yields

PREMISE  More

flowers

=

 More

pods

=

 More

seed

!

2013 SPECTRAL SAMPLING DATES June 07 Julian: 158

June 18 Julian: 169

June 27 Julian: 178

July 02 Julian: 183

n = 83

NORMALIZED DIFFERENCE INDICES  NDYI

(Yellowness)

GREEN-BLUE/GREEN+BLUE  R.NDVI

NIR-RED/NIR+RED  B.NDVI

NIR-BLUE/NIR+BLUE GB (Yellow nes s )



GREEN/BLU E 

NR



NB

NI R/RED

NI R/BLU E

YIELD RELATIONSHIP BY DATE

Before

Flowering

Late

NORTH DAKOTA YIELD MODELS

ï‚„

Regression models for each index using the maximum index value recorded for each county, across all 8-day periods

SIGNIFICANCE A

reproductive index had not been introduced to the scientific community.

 Solves

the problem of flowers confounding crop canopy reflectance.

 Window

to use remote sensing for estimating crop productivity is extended.

POTENTIAL UTILIZATION ď‚„ Government

agencies that monitor crop condition and crop production estimates at the county and state levels.

ď‚„ Crushing

plants interested in locating and procuring regional supplies of oilseed.