Mapping Balsam Fir (Abies balsamea) Christmas Tree Nutrition Requirements Using Uncrewed Aerial Vehicles and Multispectral Sensing

• DOI: 10.20944/preprints202403.1296.v1
• Publication Date: 2024-03-25T07:58:31Z
• Authors: Mason Thane MacDo...; Travis J. Esau; Mathieu F. Bilodeau
• Keywords: Abies balsamea; Tree (set theory)

Balsam fir trees are a specialty agricultural species that largely used as Christmas trees. Soil or tissue sampling is seldom performed to assess balsam nutrition needs, which can contribute over under fertilization and subsequent environmental challenges. Remote sensing determine the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) has had strong relationships with in other plants. This research aimed whether there relationship between NDVI fir. A random sample of 45 was selected autumn 2021 then another 70 spring 2022. needle samples were analyzed for N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, Fe, Zn, Mn, B, Cu. An uncrewed aerial vehicle equipped multispectral camera flown orchard each tree. Nutrition correlations through all sampled Separate correlation analyses repeated mature (greater than 5 years old) young (less old). nutrients K significant sampling. Only N correlated consistently both spring, R2 37% 33% respectively. Relationships much stronger when only considered, increasing 60% 51% found offer predictive power be useful producers help optimize fertilizer input. However, further work needed refine these relationships.