By Scout Nelson
Estimating wheat yield accurately during the growing season is essential for farmers to plan their inputs, harvest expectations, and marketing strategies. Traditional methods such as counting wheat stands and spikes have long been used, but modern research has revealed that new technologies like the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Fractional Green Canopy Cover (FGCC) provide better results.
Historical methods involved physical measurements, such as counting spikes to estimate yield. However, these methods are labor-intensive and less effective with high-yielding wheat varieties. Newer image-based methods, such as NDVI, which measures plant health using light reflectance, and FGCC, which calculates canopy cover, have shown stronger correlations with actual yield.
Recent research, published in the Agronomy Journal, conducted over three years and across six Nebraska locations, found that FGCC is a highly reliable predictor at various growth stages. FGCC data, which can be collected using a free mobile app called 'Canopeo,' is easy to use and offers flexibility with multiple collection timings.
On the other hand, NDVI, which requires specialized equipment like the GreenSeeker handheld sensor, also showed useful correlations but was less accessible for everyday use.
The study revealed that FGCC correlated strongly with yield at Feekes 2, 4, and 10 stages, with values of 0.56, 0.50, and 0.68, respectively. In contrast, traditional methods like stand counts showed no significant correlation with yield. This makes FGCC a more efficient and accurate method, reducing the need for manual labor.
Adopting these modern techniques allows farmers to plan resources more effectively, make informed market decisions, and reduce labor. As these methods continue to evolve, they will significantly improve wheat farming practices and sustainability.
Ongoing research is exploring growth stage-specific formulas to refine yield estimation methods and update the NebGuide.
Photo Credits:gettyimages-prostock-studio
Categories: Nebraska, Wheat