GiESCO 2019 banner
IVES 9 IVES Conference Series 9 GiESCO 9 Investigating three proximal remote sensing techniques for vineyard yield monitoring

Investigating three proximal remote sensing techniques for vineyard yield monitoring

Abstract

Context and purpose of the study – Yield monitoring can provide the winegrowers with information for precise production inputs during the season, thereby, ensuring the best possible harvest. Yield estimation is currently achieved through an intensive process that is destructive and time-consuming. However, remote sensing provides a group of proximal technologies and techniques for a non-destructive and less time-consuming method for yield monitoring.The objective of this study was to analyse three different approaches, for measuring grapevine yield close to harvest. Traditional destructive measurements for yield determination were used as a reference. Each technique was tested in controlled conditions (laboratory) and field conditions (vineyard) at bunch and vine levels.

Material and methods – This study was carried out in a drip-irrigated vineyard cv. Shiraz at the Welgevallen farm (Stellenbosch University, South Africa). The Shiraz block was planted with a North-South orientation in the year 2000 (2.7m x 1.5m spacing). The vines are spur pruned on a seven-wire vertical shoot positioned system (VSP). Three proximal remote sensing techniques: a) RGB imagery (Conventional Red-Green-Blue images), b) infrared depth sensing (Kinect sensor), and c) light detection and ranging (LiDAR) were analysed for yield monitoring. The estimated yield was accomplished using bunch volume estimation in three experiments at harvest. Experiment 1 uses the Kinect and RGB imagery to estimate bunch volume based on a sample of 94 individual bunches under laboratory conditions. Experiment 2 uses Kinect and RGB imagery to estimate the volume of 21 individual bunches in-field. Experiment 3 uses Kinect, RBG imagery, and LiDAR, in-field, to estimate total yield per vine of 31 individual vines. Experiment 2 and Experiment 3 were undertaken using two canopy treatments: i) full canopy (FC), and ii) leaf removal (LR – 100% leaf removal in the bunch zone thereby exposing the bunches).

Results – The results obtained in this study show a strong correlation between the volume calculated by RGB images (2D modelling) and Kinect (3D modelling) versus the control volume of the individual bunches (Experiment 1). Experiments 2 and 3 show promising results for the three proximal remote sensing techniques studied, especially in the case of fully exposed bunches (LR treatment). Therefore, it’s possible to state the feasibility of these techniques as alternative fast and non-destructive methods for yield monitoring.

Download the PDF

DOI:

Publication date: September 28, 2023

Issue: GiESCO 2019

Type: Poster

Authors

Chris HACKING1, Nitesh POONA1, Nicola MANZAN2, Carlos POBLETE-ECHEVERRÍA3*

1 Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa
2 Dipartimento di Scienze AgroAlimentari, Ambientali e Animali, University of Udine, Via delle Scienze 208, Udine, Italy
3 Department of Viticulture and Oenology, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa

Contact the author

Keywords

grapevine, yield monitoring, non-destructive methods, light detection and ranging (LiDAR), infrared depth sensing, conventional Red Green Blue images

Tags

GiESCO | GiESCO 2019 | IVES Conference Series

Citation

Related articles…

Vitamins in musts : an unexplored field

Vitamins are major compounds, involved in several prime yeast metabolic pathways. Yet, their significance in oenology has remained mostly unexplored for several decades and our current knowledge on the matter still remaining obscure to this day. While the vitaminic contents of grape musts have been approached in these ancient investigation
Read More

Identification, quantification and organoleptic impact of « dried fruit » molecular markers in Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes and in red wines

The aromas found in young Bordeaux red wines made with Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon suggest a complex mixture of aromas of fresh red fruits such as cherry or blackberry for Merlot, and strawberry or blackcurrant for Cabernet Sauvignon. The aromas of these wines are closely linked with the maturity of the grapes. The climate change that has occurred during the last decade in Bordeaux has induced changes in the ripening conditions of grape berries. It is now widely admitted that over-ripening of the berries during hot and dry summers results in the development of characteristic flavors reminiscent of cooked fruits (fig, prune). The presence of these overriding odors found in both musts and young wines affects the quality and subtlety of the wine flavor and may shorten its shelf life.

Read More

Innovative sparkling wines, traditional grape varieties and autochthonous yeasts: emerging trends for regional products diversification

Italy, like all the major vine-growing and wine-producing countries, has experienced a decline in wine export volumes in recent years.

Read More

Characterization of free and glycosidically bound simple phenols in hybrid grape varieties using liquid chromatography coupled to high resolution mass (q-orbitrap)

Vitis vinifera is one of the most diffused grapevines over the word and it is the raw material for high quality wines production. The availability of more resistant interspecific hybrid vine varieties, developed from crosses between Vitis vinifera and other Vitis species, has generating much interest, also due to the low environmental effect of production. However, hybrid grape wine composition and varietal differences between interspecific hybrids are not well defined. Different studies revealed that wine consumption has health effects due to its high content of antioxidants, as phenolic compounds. In particular, simple phenols are appreciated not only for their physiological health benefits, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and cardioprotective effects, but also because they affect wines organoleptic profile and have a significant role in defining their nutritional characteristics.

Read More

Discriminant value of soil properties for terroir zoning

Environmental analysis (climate, vegetation, geomorfoloy-lanscape, lithology and soil) and its integration in a quality index taking the Appellation of Origin as the sole universe are used as general methodology for terroir zoning in Spain (Sotés and Gómez-Miguel, 1986-2005). This methodology is also applied to specific aspects of different Spanish Appellations of Origin (size, distribution and landscape peculiarities and vine occupation index).

Read More