Mobile sensing system for phenotyping of forest seedlings in container nurseries

Abstract The primary objective of this study was to develop a universal, lightweight, and mobile system that seamlessly integrates the scanner with the construction of the horizontal spray boom at a forest nursery. This innovative approach holds tremendous potential for advancing the assessment and management of forest seedlings, providing valuable insights and streamlining nursery operations. Multichannel spectral devices mounted on irrigation booms can be used to significantly enhance the quality assessment of forest seedlings in container nurseries. Contrary to traditional and time-consuming approaches such as laboratory analysis or destructive sampling, an active canopy optical sensor operates independently of ambient light conditions and does not necessitate spectral reference readings. Mobile irrigation systems in nurseries are ideal for incorporating plant scanners owing to their exceptional repeatability, ensuring consistently high-quality results. In our study, we rigorously tested a set of four ACS 435 Holland Scientific active crop canopy sensor along with the Vega Plus C21 laser sensor, all strategically positioned on a sprinkler boom above the nursery production field from May to September 2022. The seamless integration of these devices with the GeoSCOUT X Holland Scientific data acquisition unit formed the foundation of our system. The primary objective of this study was to develop a universal, lightweight, and mobile system that seamlessly integrates the scanner with the construction of the horizontal spray boom at a forest nursery. This innovative approach holds tremendous potential for advancing the assessment and management of forest seedlings, providing valuable insights and streamlining nursery operations.