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Kwon SH, Ku KB, Le AT, Han GD, Park Y, Kim J, Tuan TT, Chung YS, Mansoor S. Enhancing citrus fruit yield investigations through flight height optimization with UAV imaging. Sci Rep 2024; 14:322. [PMID: 38172521 PMCID: PMC10764763 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-50921-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Citrus fruit yield is essential for market stability, as it allows businesses to plan for production and distribution. However, yield estimation is a complex and time-consuming process that often requires a large number of field samples to ensure representativeness. To address this challenge, we investigated the optimal altitude for unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) imaging to estimate the yield of Citrus unshiu fruit. We captured images from five different altitudes (30 m, 50 m, 70 m, 90 m, and 110 m), and determined that a resolution of approximately 5 pixels/cm is necessary for reliable estimation of fruit size based on the average diameter of C. unshiu fruit (46.7 mm). Additionally, we found that histogram equalization of the images improved fruit count estimation compared to using untreated images. At the images from 30 m height, the normal image estimates fruit numbers as 73, 55, and 88. However, the histogram equalized image estimates 88, 71, 105. The actual number of fruits is 124, 88, and 141. Using a Vegetation Index such as IPCA showed a similar estimation value to histogram equalization, but I1 estimation represents a gap to actual yields. Our results provide a valuable database for future UAV field investigations of citrus fruit yield. Using flying platforms like UAVs can provide a step towards adopting this sort of model spanning ever greater regions at a cheap cost, with this system generating accurate results in this manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soon-Hwa Kwon
- Citrus Research Institute, National Institute of Horticultural and Herbal Science, Rural Development Administration, Jeju, 63607, Republic of Korea
| | - Ki Bon Ku
- Department of Plant Resources and Environment, Jeju National University, Jeju, 63243, Republic of Korea
| | - Anh Tuan Le
- Department of Plant Resources and Environment, Jeju National University, Jeju, 63243, Republic of Korea
| | - Gyung Deok Han
- Department of Practical Arts Education, Cheongju National University of Education, Cheongju, 28690, Republic of Korea
| | - Yosup Park
- Citrus Research Institute, National Institute of Horticultural and Herbal Science, Rural Development Administration, Jeju, 63607, Republic of Korea
| | - Jaehong Kim
- Citrus Research Institute, National Institute of Horticultural and Herbal Science, Rural Development Administration, Jeju, 63607, Republic of Korea
| | - Thai Thanh Tuan
- Department of Plant Resources and Environment, Jeju National University, Jeju, 63243, Republic of Korea
| | - Yong Suk Chung
- Department of Plant Resources and Environment, Jeju National University, Jeju, 63243, Republic of Korea.
| | - Sheikh Mansoor
- Department of Plant Resources and Environment, Jeju National University, Jeju, 63243, Republic of Korea.
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