Automated system for analyzing plant vigor

Abstract

A system for evaluating the quality and/or vigor of plants is described. Plants are planted in row sections and a cart is used to pass a radiometric sensor over the row sections. The cart has a radiometric sensor assembly positioned above the row section. Each sensor assembly generates a data signal and a computer receives and stores the data signals. The field cart is positioned above the row sections and measures the existence of plants in the row section and the quantity of vegetation in the row section.

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         5 . A method for measuring the quality and/or vigor of growing plants, comprising the steps of:
 (a) planting seed of a selected variety of the plants in a row section and recording the position of the row section;   (b) growing the plants to a selected stage for evaluation of quality and/or vigor;   (c) collecting radiometric sensor data from each row section corresponding to the evidence and quantity of a plant or plants in the row section; and   (d) analyzing the sensor data to generate a measure of the completeness of stand of plants in the row section.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein GPS is used to record the location of seed planted in the row sections. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein GPS is used to correlate the sensor data to the location of the row sections. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein varieties of plants of known completeness of stand are included as check plants. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the sensor is mounted on a vehicle and supported above the plants. 
     
     
         10 . A method of plant breeding, comprising the steps of:
 (a) planting seed of a selected variety of the plant in a row section and recording the position of the row section;   (b) growing the plants to a selected stage for evaluation of quality and/or vigor;   (c) collecting radiometric sensor data from each row section corresponding to the evidence and quantity of a plant or plants in the row section;   (d) analyzing the sensor data to generate a measure of the quality and/or vigor of the variety of plant in the row section; and   (e) using the measure of quality and/or vigor of the variety as a basis for selecting between plants in a plant breeding program.   
     
     
         11 . A method for developing seeds bred for uniformity of seedling emergence, comprising the steps of:
 (a) planting seed of selected germplasm of the plants in a row section;   (b) growing the plants to a selected stage for evaluation;   (c) collecting automated sensor data readings from the plants at different times from emergence until said selected stage for evaluation to quantify seedling growth;   (d) measuring the change between the initial automated data readings to the later in time data readings;   (e) analyzing the automated sensor data readings to generate a measure of the uniformity of seedling emergence of the germplasm of plants   (f) selecting plants with uniformity of seedling growth for further breeding   (g) breeding a new variety with the uniformity of seedling growth; and   (h) harvesting seed from the new variety or progeny evidencing the uniformity of seedling growth.