Assessment of the Correlation Between UAV Indices and Weed Efficacy Ratings
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Date
2024-05
Authors
Boles, Lee A.
Major Professor
Licht, Mark
Advisor
Committee Member
Hartzler, Robert
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Altmetrics
Abstract
Small plot weed control research can be laborious, subjective and lack visual representation when communicating the results. The purpose of this study is to understand how visual control ratings correlate to various indices captured by unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) imagery. The indices measured include normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), canopy cover and green to red ratio (G/R ratio). UAV imagery and the indices measured can aid in measuring treatment differences, confirming visual control ratings and capturing imagery to help communicate the results. This study consists of 13 trials of various herbicides and adjuvant treatments. The herbicides include the active ingredients acifluorfen, clethodim, glufosinate, glyphosate and saflufenacil. The adjuvants include water conditioners, non-ionic surfactants and oils. Ratings were taken on the trials at multiple times up to 21 days after application. Averaged across all indices, rating timings and herbicides the UAV measured index rankings had a moderate 0.64 correlation to visual weed control rankings. Correlation values, when split by herbicide or rating time, ranged from 0.82 to 0.41, suggesting that the UAV measured indices will vary by herbicide and time of rating. The NDVI ranking correlation of 0.67 was the greatest correlation to visual weed control. The 7 and 14 days after application rating dates had the best correlation to visual weed control. Overall, adding UAV measured indices can improve weed control research evaluations.
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2024