Study on a High Accuracy Measuring Method for Root Diameter of Sugar Beets

Abstract

To estimate the optimum harvest time and to predict the crop yield with meteorological data, a measurement system for the growth of a sugar beet accurately and nondestructively was attempted to develop. The system which measures the root diameter with transducer in the soil is designed and made on an experimental basis. Measurement accuracy with two transducers was higher than with one for one sugar beet. The influence of the external disturbances was little to the system. Shrinkage and expansion in root growth and the blunting of root swelling at the end of growth were measured. Accumulation and analysis of measured data have possibility to estimate the optimum harvest time and to predict the crop yield accurately.