Combined UAV‐ and tractor‐based stripe rust monitoring in winter wheat under field conditions

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have the potential to monitor health status of several crop fields a farmer in full coverage. For complete and fast monitoring, however, high flight altitudes are usually needed, especially if large areas should be observed short time intervals. In this case, resolution on ground becomes insufficient detect specific symptoms diseases because submillimeter scale is needed. This study pursued idea performing remote UAV imaging discoloration combination with near-surface tractor uredospore layers as characteristic signs stripe (yellow) rust (caused by Puccinia striiformis Westend. f. sp. tritici) winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). To simulate healthy diseased field parts, 3-yr experimental design included controlled infected plots those sprayed fungicides controls. Imaging, disease severity, development rating were performed along series. Significant differences between control occurred imagery using normalized green–red difference index from median (upper three leaves) infested leaf area 3% for images maximally stable extreme regions detector 3 5%, respectively. future, it conceivable that farmers will combine (aerial monitoring damage fields) (ground determine cause) automatic scanning status.