Estimation of oil palm’s leaf area index (LAI) using Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) images

Abstract

Leaf Area Index (LAI) is a parameter commonly used to indicate oil palm growth and production. The destructive method is the standard method to estimate LAI. However, this method requires much effort and cost and can only be done at a specific period. Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), which have been widely used for mapping and calculating trees in oil palm plantations, have the potential to estimate LAI values quickly, efficiently, and without disturbing the oil palm tree. This research was conducted to develop the model for predicting LAI based on UAV images. Data was collected from six plots of 12-year-old oil palm trees at Adolina Estate, Serdang Bedagai, North Sumatra, Indonesia. The research was conducted on six varieties released by IOPRI, consisting of DxP Yangambi, DxP Langkat, DxP Simalungun, DyP Dumpy, DxP LaMe, and DxP PPKS 540. The estimated canopy cover from the UAV images was employed as an independent factor (x) compared to the calculated LAI from the destructive method, which was used as a dependent factor (y). The results showed that the LAI estimation using UAV imagery followed a linear model with R-squared values ranging from 0.3874-0.9556. In conclusion, despite requiring further research, UAV images could be used as rapid tools to estimate oil palm LAI.