Irrigation scheduling of peanuts using plant based sensing.

Abstract

Temperature is of extreme importance in all areas of plant growth. Canopy temperatures can be measured by infrared thermometry. The Forward Looking Infra-Red (FLIR) One heat sensing camera was chosen to measure the canopy temperature of a peanut crop grown in a red ferrosol at the Bundaberg Research Facility. This camera was matched to an iPhone S6. Canopy temperatures were recorded for two treatments, irrigation using the FLIR One technology and dry. Solar Noon (12:00 – 2:00pm) canopy temperature in the irrigated treatment averaged 28.6 - 32° C and the canopy temperature in the dry treatments were between 30 and 36° C. The camera angle for gathering canopy temperatures of the FLIR One camera should be at 75°. There were no visual canopy wilting symptoms displayed by the water stressed peanut crop canopy. When using thermal imaging you should manage the peanut crop to maintain the crop canopy temperature in irrigated peanut plants from 2-7°C below air temperature or below 35°C. The results of this study indicate that the FLIR One camera can measure peanut canopy temperatures and can be used as a tool to indicate that the crop may need irrigating before visually observing plant stress symptoms such as wilting. New Apps and software have been developed since the start of the project that have increased the value of the FLIR One camera as a tool for farmers to use to manage crop canopy temperatures They can provide information to develop precision irrigation and to help reduce irrigation variability across the field. The FLIR One camera can assist growers to schedule irrigations for their peanut crops.