Combining UAV Remote Sensing with Ensemble Learning to Monitor Leaf Nitrogen Content in Custard Apple (<i>Annona squamosa</i> L.)

One of the most important nutrients needed for fruit tree growth is nitrogen. For orchards to get targeted, well-informed nitrogen fertilizer, accurate, large-scale, real-time monitoring, and assessment of nitrogen nutrition is essential. This study examines the Leaf Nitrogen Content (LNC) of the cu...

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Main Authors: Xiangtai Jiang, Lutao Gao, Xingang Xu, Wenbiao Wu, Guijun Yang, Yang Meng, Haikuan Feng, Yafeng Li, Hanyu Xue, Tianen Chen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-12-01
Series:Agronomy
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/15/1/38
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author Xiangtai Jiang
Lutao Gao
Xingang Xu
Wenbiao Wu
Guijun Yang
Yang Meng
Haikuan Feng
Yafeng Li
Hanyu Xue
Tianen Chen
author_facet Xiangtai Jiang
Lutao Gao
Xingang Xu
Wenbiao Wu
Guijun Yang
Yang Meng
Haikuan Feng
Yafeng Li
Hanyu Xue
Tianen Chen
author_sort Xiangtai Jiang
collection DOAJ
description One of the most important nutrients needed for fruit tree growth is nitrogen. For orchards to get targeted, well-informed nitrogen fertilizer, accurate, large-scale, real-time monitoring, and assessment of nitrogen nutrition is essential. This study examines the Leaf Nitrogen Content (LNC) of the custard apple tree, a noteworthy fruit tree that is extensively grown in China’s Yunnan Province. This study uses an ensemble learning technique based on multiple machine learning algorithms to effectively and precisely monitor the leaf nitrogen content in the tree canopy using multispectral canopy footage of custard apple trees taken via Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) across different growth phases. First, canopy shadows and background noise from the soil are removed from the UAV imagery by using spectral shadow indices across growth phases. The noise-filtered imagery is then used to extract a number of vegetation indices (VIs) and textural features (TFs). Correlation analysis is then used to determine which features are most pertinent for LNC estimation. A two-layer ensemble model is built to quantitatively estimate leaf nitrogen using the stacking ensemble learning (Stacking) principles. Random Forest (RF), Adaptive Boosting (ADA), Gradient Boosting Decision Trees (GBDT), Linear Regression (LR), and Extremely Randomized Trees (ERT) are among the basis estimators that are integrated in the first layer. By detecting and eliminating redundancy among base estimators, the Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator regression (Lasso)model used in the second layer improves nitrogen estimation. According to the analysis results, Lasso successfully finds redundant base estimators in the suggested ensemble learning approach, which yields the maximum estimation accuracy for the nitrogen content of custard apple trees’ leaves. With a root mean square error (RMSE) of 0.059 and a mean absolute error (MAE) of 0.193, the coefficient of determination (R<sup>2</sup>) came to 0. 661. The significant potential of UAV-based ensemble learning techniques for tracking nitrogen nutrition in custard apple leaves is highlighted by this work. Additionally, the approaches investigated might offer insightful information and a point of reference for UAV remote sensing applications in nitrogen nutrition monitoring for other crops.
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series Agronomy
spelling doaj-art-337674ec9ffa4786940cae2947210fa12025-01-24T13:16:27ZengMDPI AGAgronomy2073-43952024-12-011513810.3390/agronomy15010038Combining UAV Remote Sensing with Ensemble Learning to Monitor Leaf Nitrogen Content in Custard Apple (<i>Annona squamosa</i> L.)Xiangtai Jiang0Lutao Gao1Xingang Xu2Wenbiao Wu3Guijun Yang4Yang Meng5Haikuan Feng6Yafeng Li7Hanyu Xue8Tianen Chen9Key Laboratory of Quantitative Remote Sensing in Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Information Technology Research Center, Beijing Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100097, ChinaCollege of Big Data, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, ChinaKey Laboratory of Quantitative Remote Sensing in Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Information Technology Research Center, Beijing Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100097, ChinaKey Laboratory of Quantitative Remote Sensing in Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Information Technology Research Center, Beijing Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100097, ChinaKey Laboratory of Quantitative Remote Sensing in Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Information Technology Research Center, Beijing Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100097, ChinaKey Laboratory of Quantitative Remote Sensing in Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Information Technology Research Center, Beijing Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100097, ChinaKey Laboratory of Quantitative Remote Sensing in Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Information Technology Research Center, Beijing Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100097, ChinaKey Laboratory of Quantitative Remote Sensing in Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Information Technology Research Center, Beijing Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100097, ChinaKey Laboratory of Quantitative Remote Sensing in Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Information Technology Research Center, Beijing Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100097, ChinaKey Laboratory of Quantitative Remote Sensing in Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Information Technology Research Center, Beijing Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100097, ChinaOne of the most important nutrients needed for fruit tree growth is nitrogen. For orchards to get targeted, well-informed nitrogen fertilizer, accurate, large-scale, real-time monitoring, and assessment of nitrogen nutrition is essential. This study examines the Leaf Nitrogen Content (LNC) of the custard apple tree, a noteworthy fruit tree that is extensively grown in China’s Yunnan Province. This study uses an ensemble learning technique based on multiple machine learning algorithms to effectively and precisely monitor the leaf nitrogen content in the tree canopy using multispectral canopy footage of custard apple trees taken via Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) across different growth phases. First, canopy shadows and background noise from the soil are removed from the UAV imagery by using spectral shadow indices across growth phases. The noise-filtered imagery is then used to extract a number of vegetation indices (VIs) and textural features (TFs). Correlation analysis is then used to determine which features are most pertinent for LNC estimation. A two-layer ensemble model is built to quantitatively estimate leaf nitrogen using the stacking ensemble learning (Stacking) principles. Random Forest (RF), Adaptive Boosting (ADA), Gradient Boosting Decision Trees (GBDT), Linear Regression (LR), and Extremely Randomized Trees (ERT) are among the basis estimators that are integrated in the first layer. By detecting and eliminating redundancy among base estimators, the Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator regression (Lasso)model used in the second layer improves nitrogen estimation. According to the analysis results, Lasso successfully finds redundant base estimators in the suggested ensemble learning approach, which yields the maximum estimation accuracy for the nitrogen content of custard apple trees’ leaves. With a root mean square error (RMSE) of 0.059 and a mean absolute error (MAE) of 0.193, the coefficient of determination (R<sup>2</sup>) came to 0. 661. The significant potential of UAV-based ensemble learning techniques for tracking nitrogen nutrition in custard apple leaves is highlighted by this work. Additionally, the approaches investigated might offer insightful information and a point of reference for UAV remote sensing applications in nitrogen nutrition monitoring for other crops.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/15/1/38canopy nitrogen contentUAV remote sensingensemble learningLasso model
spellingShingle Xiangtai Jiang
Lutao Gao
Xingang Xu
Wenbiao Wu
Guijun Yang
Yang Meng
Haikuan Feng
Yafeng Li
Hanyu Xue
Tianen Chen
Combining UAV Remote Sensing with Ensemble Learning to Monitor Leaf Nitrogen Content in Custard Apple (<i>Annona squamosa</i> L.)
Agronomy
canopy nitrogen content
UAV remote sensing
ensemble learning
Lasso model
title Combining UAV Remote Sensing with Ensemble Learning to Monitor Leaf Nitrogen Content in Custard Apple (<i>Annona squamosa</i> L.)
title_full Combining UAV Remote Sensing with Ensemble Learning to Monitor Leaf Nitrogen Content in Custard Apple (<i>Annona squamosa</i> L.)
title_fullStr Combining UAV Remote Sensing with Ensemble Learning to Monitor Leaf Nitrogen Content in Custard Apple (<i>Annona squamosa</i> L.)
title_full_unstemmed Combining UAV Remote Sensing with Ensemble Learning to Monitor Leaf Nitrogen Content in Custard Apple (<i>Annona squamosa</i> L.)
title_short Combining UAV Remote Sensing with Ensemble Learning to Monitor Leaf Nitrogen Content in Custard Apple (<i>Annona squamosa</i> L.)
title_sort combining uav remote sensing with ensemble learning to monitor leaf nitrogen content in custard apple i annona squamosa i l
topic canopy nitrogen content
UAV remote sensing
ensemble learning
Lasso model
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/15/1/38
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