Non-invasive measurement techniques on plants

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Non-invasive measurement techniques on plants

HBLFA Raumberg-Gumpenstein

Created: September 14, 2020
Last updated: September 14, 2020

Non-invasive measurement techniques on plants

In addition to surveys of soil, nutrient and water balance in grassland, the characterization, evaluation and assessment of plant populations is particularly important. Traditional, destructive surveys such as yield determination through mowing, weighing, sampling and analytical studies in the chemical laboratory only enable limited data collection, usually limited to the time of harvest. The use of non-invasive survey methods allows the dynamic observation of various parameters through continuous measurements on the same individual without affecting their growth and development. With such time series you can, for example, show population changes, development of biomass and growth processes over defined periods of time, such as an entire growth.

At the HBLFA Raumberg-Gumpenstein, non-invasive survey methods have been increasingly used on permanent grassland since 2013, such as ultrasound technology to determine plant height or field spectroscopy to determine vegetation indices. In order to efficiently carry out extensive measurement campaigns in numerous grassland experiments and projects, a mobile measurement platform was developed on which several non-invasive measurement techniques are combined. With the help of this mobile measuring unit, measurements can now be carried out under precisely standardized conditions with minimal personnel effort and the highest possible quality and reproducibility.