The Delineation of Management Zones of the Halyomorpha halys (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) Population Based on Its Spatiotemporal Distribution for Precision Agriculture Purposes

TL;DR

This study uses precision agriculture to manage stink bug populations in kiwi orchards by identifying zones for targeted pesticide use based on canopy health data.

Contribution

A novel approach to delineate pest management zones using remote sensing and GIS for variable-rate pesticide application in kiwi orchards.

Findings

H. halys populations correlate with higher NDVI and NDWI values, indicating preference for healthier, moister canopies.

GIS-based K means clustering identified three stable risk zones (low, medium, high) across orchards and seasons.

The approach reduces pesticide use, environmental impact, and production costs while maintaining pest control.

Abstract

This study explores the use of Precision Agriculture techniques to manage the brown marmorated stink bug (Halyomorpha halys) in kiwi orchards, focusing on delineating management zones (MZs) for variable-rate pesticide applications by integrating pest monitoring data with canopy characteristics assessed through remote sensing indices. Pheromone traps were installed in four kiwi orchards in Greece over three growing seasons to monitor H. halys populations, and satellite-derived Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI) values were calculated to assess canopy health and moisture. A significant correlation was observed between H. halys population densities and areas with higher NDVI and NDWI values, indicating the pest’s preference for healthier, more humid canopy conditions. Using GIS-based K means clustering, this study delineated three risk-based MZs (low, medium, high) for each orchard and season, revealing stable spatial patterns over time. This site-specific approach allows for targeted pesticide applications, reducing chemical usage, minimizing environmental impacts, and lowering production costs.

Precision Agriculture is an agricultural management strategy that aims to increase farmers’ profit, maximize crop productivity and sustainability, and protect the environment by applying inputs in optimum rates based on plant needs. The delineation of site-specific management zones is a crucial step at the application of Precision Agriculture. However, the procedure of delineating management zones for pest management is difficult since pest populations are dynamic and change spatially and temporally throughout a growing season. The objectives of this work is to study kiwi canopy characteristics, to correlate them with Halyomorpha halys (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) populations and delineate management zones for pesticide applications in variable rates. To achieve this, four kiwi orchards in total were selected in the regions of Pieria and Imathia in Greece. Τen traps were installed from early May to late October within each selected kiwi orchard: two types of traps at every side of the orchards and the center. The installed traps were examined weekly, and the number of the captured H. halys was recorded. During the same days, sentinel satellite images were analyzed to calculate the indices: NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) and NDWI (Normalized Difference Water Index). The collected data were combined in a GIS software to delineate management zones using a K means algorithm and unsupervised classification. The results of this three-year study showed population variability within the kiwi orchards since the population of H. halys was higher in field regions where NDVI and NDWI values were high. The delineation of management zones revealed that there are spatio-temporal stable zones in each field where there is high, medium, and low risk to develop H. halys populations. The benefits of the proposed strategy are multiple since it is expected that farmers will be able to reduce the production expenses of kiwifruits and environmental protection while increasing profit.

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