Pest Management Science (2022) 78, 2316-2323

Javier Plaza, Nilda Sánchez, Carmen García-Ariza, Rodrigo Pérez-Sánchez, Francisco Charfolé and Constantino Caminero-Saldaña (2022)
Classification of airborne multispectral imagery to quantify common vole impacts on an agricultural field
Pest Management Science 78 (6), 2316-2323
Abstract:
BACKGROUND
The common vole (Microtus arvalis) is a very destructive agricultural pest. Particularly in Europe, its monitoring is essential not only for adequate management and outbreak forecasting, but also for accurately determining the vole's impact on affected fields. In this study, several alternatives for estimating the damage to alfalfa fields by voles through unmanned vehicle systems (UASs) and multispectral cameras are presented. Currently, both the farmers and agencies involved in the integrated pest management (IPM) programs of voles do not have sufficiently precise methods for accurate assessments of the real impact to crops.
RESULTS
Overall, the four multispectral classification methods presented showed similar performances. However, the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI)-based segmentation exhibited the most accurate and reliable appraisal of the affected areas. Nevertheless, it must be noted that the simplest method, which was based on an automatic classification, provided results similar to those obtained by more complex methods. In addition, a significant direct relationship was found between the number of active burrows and damage to the alfalfa canopy.
CONCLUSION
Unmanned vehicle systems, combined with multispectral imagery classification, are an effective and easily transferable methodology for the assessment and monitoring of common vole damage to agricultural plots. This combination of methods facilitates decision-making processes for IPM control strategies against this pest.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
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Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
damage/losses/economics

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Microtus arvalis	Alfalfa/lucerne (Medicago sativa)	Spain (continental)