High-Tech Scouting in Citrus Production

Abstract

Traditional sensing technologies in citrus production, for pest and disease detection and field phenotyping, rely on manual sampling and are time consuming and labor intensive. Since availability of personnel trained for field scouting is a major problem, small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), equipped with various sensors, and artificial intelligence (AI) can simplify the surveying procedure, decrease data collection time, and reduce cost. UAVs equipped with RGB and multispectral sensors have recently become flexible and cost-effective solutions for rapid, precise and non-destructive field scouting. Growers are typically reluctant to adopt new technologies but demonstrated ease of use and cost savings can encourage widespread adoption. While precise and early detection of pests and diseases can reduce spray costs, reduce scouting labor costs, and may reduce fruit losses caused by pests and diseases, the extent to which this is offset by the increased cost of specialized labor or consultants needed to operate UAVs and interpret information needs to be carefully examined by each operation.

Peer reviewed through UF/IFAS Citrus Research and Education Center; published in Citrus Industry Magazine.