Using an aerial system of remote sensing to detect different nutritional status in Brachiaria decumbens

Mário C Da Silva Júnior,Francisco De A De C Pinto,Ricardo C De Resende,Luciano B Vieira,Daniel M De Queiroz

doi:10.1590/s0100-69162013000500016

Mário C Da Silva Júnior, Francisco De A De C Pinto + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/s0100-69162013000500016

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Abstract

The aim of this study was to use digital images acquired by cameras attached to a helium balloon to detect variation of the nutritional status in Brachiaria decumbens. The treatments consisted of five doses of nitrogen (0, 50, 100, 150 e 200kg ha-1) with six replications each, evaluated in a completely randomized statistical design. A remote sensing system composed of digital cameras and microcomputers was used for image acquisition, and a helium balloon lifted the cameras to the heights of 15, 20, 25 and 30m. A portable chlorophyll meter and analyses of leaf nitrogen content were used to make comparisons with data obtained by the remote sensing system. Data was acquired in two phases, in different climatic conditions. At the end of each phase, dry matter production was measured. Three vegetation indices were used to evaluate the detection of different nutritional status. The three indices were able to detect the effects of N doses. The indices constructed with the Green spectral band showed to be more efficient.

Highlights

Brazil stands out as a global exporter of bovine meat, possessing good international competitiveness, and the major cause of this is that the cost of production is relatively lower because the animal feeding is predominantly by pasture (SOBER, 2011).The pastures occupy most of the agricultural areas of Brazil, the growing advancement of agriculture on pasture areas in recent years is making the production of milk and meat move to regions of poor soils, inadequate to agriculture
In the present study, we evaluated the possibility to discriminate the effects of different doses of nitrogen fertilizer through vegetation indices, using an aerial remote sensing system, and, to evaluate the correlation and efficiency of this method with regards to other methods already widely used, as the chlorophyll meter and analyses of leaf N content
The experiment was established in the Forage Section, Department of Animal Science, Federal University of Viçosa, in Viçosa city – Minas Gerais (MG) state, in Brazil, in an area of pasture established with Brachiaria decumbens

Summary

Introduction

Brazil stands out as a global exporter of bovine meat, possessing good international competitiveness, and the major cause of this is that the cost of production is relatively lower because the animal feeding is predominantly by pasture (SOBER, 2011).The pastures occupy most of the agricultural areas of Brazil, the growing advancement of agriculture on pasture areas in recent years is making the production of milk and meat move to regions of poor soils, inadequate to agriculture. Brazil stands out as a global exporter of bovine meat, possessing good international competitiveness, and the major cause of this is that the cost of production is relatively lower because the animal feeding is predominantly by pasture (SOBER, 2011). Ricardo C. de Resende of agriculture have been demanding the cattle breeders to increase the productivity and competitiveness of the exploration to enable livestock on agricultural land. It increases the need for greater forage production in an ever more limited space and less favorable conditions (BARCELLOS et al, 2008)

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