Abstract
In this study, we present a non-destructive technique for estimating the Leaf Area Index (LAI) of potato crops. The mobile LAI system consists of a PAR sensor (400–700 nm) and an NIR sensor (700–1000 nm), both attached to an aluminium frame extending from the front of a tractor, thus enabling LAI estimation along the potato ridges. An RTK-GNSS module attached to the sensors provides precise geo-location information alongside the estimated LAI values, thus creating a detailed map of the measured area. A comparison with a standard PAR sensor (a photon meter) showed a high correlation with a linear coefficient of determination (R2 = 0.88). Furthermore, UAV estimated crop canopy traits of height, coverage and volume were also compared.
