Plant phenomics & precision agriculture simulation of winter wheat growth by the assimilation of unmanned aerial vehicle imagery into the WOFOST model.

Tianle Yang,Tao Liu,Weijun Zhang,Wei Wu,Chengming Sun,Tong Zhou,Abel Chemura

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0246874

Abstract

The aim of this study is to optimize the simulation result of the WOFOST model and explore the possibility of assimilating unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) imagery into this model. Field images of wheat during its key growth stages are acquired with a UAV, and the corresponding leaf area index (LAI), biomass, and final yield are experimentally measured. LAI data is retrieved from the UAV imagery and assimilated into a localized WOFOST model using least squares optimization. Sensitive parameters, i.e., specific leaf area (SLATB0, SLATB0.5, SLATB2) and maximum CO2 assimilation rate (AMAXTB1, AMAXTB1.3) are adjusted to minimize the discrepancy between the LAI obtained from the model simulation and inversion of the UAV data. The results show that the assimilated model provides a better estimation of the growth and development of winter wheat in the study area. The R2, RMSE, and NRMSE of winter wheat LAI simulated with the assimilated WOFOST model are 0.8812, 0.49, and 23.5% respectively. The R2, RMSE, and NRMSE of the simulated yield are 0.9489, 327.06 kg·hm-2, and 6.5%. The accuracy in model simulation of winter wheat growth is improved, which demonstrates the feasibility of integrating UAV data into crop models.

Highlights

The coupling of crop models and remote sensing data is a novel approach in modern agricultural research and involves multiple fields, such as agriculture, mathematics, and remote sensing
Except for the yields of M2N1 and M3N1, which are close to the measured values, and that of M1N2, which is slightly above the actual value, the yields simulated by the WOFOST model with assimilation are in general lower than the actual ones, but are above the estimations given by the localized model at high nitrogen levels
The assimilation of remote sensing data for crop modeling improves the accuracy of model simulation and allows for the accurate and timely input of parameter values acquired in regional-scale models [20,21]

Summary

Introduction

The coupling of crop models and remote sensing data is a novel approach in modern agricultural research and involves multiple fields, such as agriculture, mathematics, and remote sensing. Crop simulation models with remote sensing data assimilation can dynamically reflect the inherent growth mechanism of crops while incorporating global real-time dynamic monitoring capabilities of remote sensing [3]. Numerous studies have shown that the parameter optimization method is superior to the forcing and updating methods in terms of the assimilation results. This method involves the coupling of different data and the constant updating of the initial values of the model parameters according to the selected mathematical algorithms until the optimal set of model parameters is found. Compared to the other two methods, the parameter optimization method is less affected by the time, space, and errors of remote sensing observations It allows for errors in remote sensing data and is the most widely used assimilation method. The simulation results with assimilation are validated in the hopes of laying the foundation for the joint use of UAV and modeling

Materials and methods

Evaluation of WOFOST parameters

Discussion