Forecasting of Hypoallergenic Wheat Productivity Based on Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Remote Sensing Approach—Case Study

Abstract

Remote sensing methods based on UAV and hand-held devices as well have been used to assess the response to nitrogen and sulfur fertilization of hypoallergenic genotypes of winter wheat. The field experiment was conducted using the split-split-plot design with three repetitions. The first factor was the two genotypes of winter wheat specified as V1 (without allergic protein) and V2 (with allergic protein), and the second factor was three doses of sulfur fertilization: 0, 20 and 40 kg S per ha. The third factor consisted of six doses of nitrogen fertilization: 0, 40, 60, 80, 100 and 120 kg N·ha−1. Monitoring the values of the indicators depending on the level of nitrogen and sulfur fertilization allowed the results to be used in yield forecasting, assessment of plant condition, LAI value, nutritional status in the cultivation of wheat. The maximum yield should be expected at doses of 94 and 101 kg N ha−1 for genotypes V1 and V2, respectively, giving yields of 5.39 and 4.71 Mg ha−1. On the basis of the tested vegetation indices, the highest doses of N should be applied using the normalized difference RedEdge (NDRE), and the lowest ones based on the enhanced vegetation index (EVI), and, in the latter case, a reduction in yield of more than 200 kg ha−1 in the V2 genotype should be taken into account.