In-Field Forage Biomass and Quality Prediction Using Image and VIS-NIR Proximal Sensing with Machine Learning and Covariance-Based Strategies for Livestock Management in Silvopastoral Systems
Controlling forage quality and grazing are crucial for sustainable livestock production, health, productivity, and animal performance. However, the limited availability of reliable handheld sensors for timely pasture quality prediction hinders farmers’ ability to make informed decisions. This stud...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | article |
| Language: | Inglés |
| Published: |
Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI)
2025
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2624-7402/7/4/111 https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12324/41271 https://doi.org/10.3390/agriengineering7040111 |
| Summary: | Controlling forage quality and grazing are crucial for sustainable livestock production, health, productivity, and animal performance. However, the limited availability of
reliable handheld sensors for timely pasture quality prediction hinders farmers’ ability to
make informed decisions. This study investigates the in-field dynamics of Mombasa grass
(Megathyrsus maximus) forage biomass production and quality using optical techniques such
as visible imaging and near-infrared (VIS-NIR) hyperspectral proximal sensing combined
with machine learning models enhanced by covariance-based error reduction strategies.
Data collection was conducted using a cellphone camera and a handheld VIS-NIR spectrometer. Feature extraction to build the dataset involved image segmentation, performed using
the Mahalanobis distance algorithm, as well as spectral processing to calculate multiple
vegetation indices. Machine learning models, including linear regression, LASSO, Ridge,
ElasticNet, k-nearest neighbors, and decision tree algorithms, were employed for predictive
analysis, achieving high accuracy with R2 values ranging from 0.938 to 0.998 in predicting
biomass and quality traits. A strategy to achieve high performance was implemented by
using four spectral captures and computing the reflectance covariance at NIR wavelengths,
accounting for the three-dimensional characteristics of the forage. These findings are expected to advance the development of AI-based tools and handheld sensors particularly
suited for silvopastoral systems. |
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