Abstract
The leaf area index (LAI) is defined as the one-side leaf area per unit ground area, and is probably the most widely used index to characterize grapevine vigor. However, LAI varies spatially within vineyard plots. Mapping and quantifying this variability is very important for improving management decisions and agricultural practices. In this study, a mobile terrestrial laser scanner (MTLS) was used to map the LAI of a vineyard, and then to examine how different scanning methods (on-the-go or discontinuous systematic sampling) may affect the reliability of the resulting raster maps. The use of the MTLS allows calculating the enveloping vegetative area of the canopy, which is the sum of the leaf wall areas for both sides of the row (excluding gaps) and the projected upper area. Obtaining the enveloping areas requires scanning from both sides one meter length section along the row at each systematic sampling point. By converting the enveloping areas into LAI values, a raster map of the latter can be obtained by spatial interpolation (kriging). However, the user can opt for scanning on-the-go in a continuous way and compute 1-m LAI values along the rows, or instead, perform the scanning at discontinuous systematic sampling within the plot. An analysis of correlation between maps indicated that MTLS can be used discontinuously in specific sampling sections separated by up to 15 m along the rows. This capability significantly reduces the amount of data to be acquired at field level, the data storage capacity and the processing power of computers.
Highlights
Light detection and ranging (LiDAR) is a technology that is becoming widely used by researchers to characterize vineyards and other crops
The main objective of this study was to develop a methodology that allows the use of mobile vineyard canopies using ground-based LiDAR sensors, and more importantly, the difficulty of the terrestrial laser scanners (MTLS) in viticulture to estimate and map the leaf area index (LAI)
The spatial variability was remarkable of variation of 24%), but more interesting was that the variation in LAI was highly structured, allowing, but more interesting was that the variation in LAI was highly thestructured, delimitation of well-defined and compact areas within field
Summary
Light detection and ranging (LiDAR) is a technology that is becoming widely used by researchers to characterize vineyards and other crops. LiDAR sensors can be airborne or terrestrial and measurements can be performed from stationary or mobile platforms. Different geometric parameters can be measured such as vegetation height, cross-sectional area, canopy volume [1,2,3,4,5,6], and even trunk volume [7]. Other parameters measured with terrestrial laser sensors are the tree area index [5] and the leaf wall area [8]. Sensors 2016, 16, 119 make LiDAR information a reliable way to capture detailed geometric characteristics of the canopy structure and analyze plant response to different inputs and conditions [9].
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