In-field high throughput grapevine phenotyping with a consumer-grade depth camera

TL;DR

This paper presents a method for automated grapevine phenotyping in the field using a consumer-grade depth camera, enabling efficient canopy volume estimation and bunch detection without manual effort.

Contribution

The study introduces a novel approach for in-field grapevine phenotyping using affordable depth sensors mounted on agricultural vehicles.

Findings

Effective canopy volume estimation in the field

Accurate bunch detection and counting

Use of consumer-grade depth camera in agriculture

Abstract

Plant phenotyping, that is, the quantitative assessment of plant traits including growth, morphology, physiology, and yield, is a critical aspect towards efficient and effective crop management. Currently, plant phenotyping is a manually intensive and time consuming process, which involves human operators making measurements in the field, based on visual estimates or using hand-held devices. In this work, methods for automated grapevine phenotyping are developed, aiming to canopy volume estimation and bunch detection and counting. It is demonstrated that both measurements can be effectively performed in the field using a consumer-grade depth camera mounted onboard an agricultural vehicle.