Toward an Automated System for Nondestructive Estimation of Plant Biomass

ABSTRACT Accurate and nondestructive estimation of plant biomass is crucial for optimizing plant productivity, but existing methods are often expensive and require complex experimental setups. To address this challenge, we developed an automated system for estimating plant root and shoot biomass ove...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Randall Kliman, Yuankai Huang, Ye Zhao, Yongsheng Chen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-02-01
Series:Plant Direct
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/pld3.70043
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849316370641059840
author Randall Kliman
Yuankai Huang
Ye Zhao
Yongsheng Chen
author_facet Randall Kliman
Yuankai Huang
Ye Zhao
Yongsheng Chen
author_sort Randall Kliman
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT Accurate and nondestructive estimation of plant biomass is crucial for optimizing plant productivity, but existing methods are often expensive and require complex experimental setups. To address this challenge, we developed an automated system for estimating plant root and shoot biomass over the plant's lifecycle in hydroponic systems. This system employs a robotic arm and turntable to capture 40 images at equidistant angles around a hydroponically grown lettuce plant. These images are then processed into silhouettes and used in voxel‐based volumetric 3D reconstruction to produce detailed 3D models. We utilize a space carving method along with a raytracing‐based optical correction technique to create high‐accuracy reconstructions. Analysis of these models demonstrates that our system accurately reconstructs the plant root structure and provides precise measurements of root volume, which can be calibrated to indicate biomass.
format Article
id doaj-art-fbe65ea75e4842a7b60aa7ac3c832a16
institution Kabale University
issn 2475-4455
language English
publishDate 2025-02-01
publisher Wiley
record_format Article
series Plant Direct
spelling doaj-art-fbe65ea75e4842a7b60aa7ac3c832a162025-08-20T03:51:45ZengWileyPlant Direct2475-44552025-02-0193n/an/a10.1002/pld3.70043Toward an Automated System for Nondestructive Estimation of Plant BiomassRandall Kliman0Yuankai Huang1Ye Zhao2Yongsheng Chen3School of Electrical and Computer Engineering Georgia Institute of Technology Atlanta Georgia USASchool of Civil and Environmental Engineering Georgia Institute of Technology Atlanta Georgia USASchool of Mechanical Engineering Georgia Institute of Technology Atlanta Georgia USASchool of Civil and Environmental Engineering Georgia Institute of Technology Atlanta Georgia USAABSTRACT Accurate and nondestructive estimation of plant biomass is crucial for optimizing plant productivity, but existing methods are often expensive and require complex experimental setups. To address this challenge, we developed an automated system for estimating plant root and shoot biomass over the plant's lifecycle in hydroponic systems. This system employs a robotic arm and turntable to capture 40 images at equidistant angles around a hydroponically grown lettuce plant. These images are then processed into silhouettes and used in voxel‐based volumetric 3D reconstruction to produce detailed 3D models. We utilize a space carving method along with a raytracing‐based optical correction technique to create high‐accuracy reconstructions. Analysis of these models demonstrates that our system accurately reconstructs the plant root structure and provides precise measurements of root volume, which can be calibrated to indicate biomass.https://doi.org/10.1002/pld3.70043
spellingShingle Randall Kliman
Yuankai Huang
Ye Zhao
Yongsheng Chen
Toward an Automated System for Nondestructive Estimation of Plant Biomass
Plant Direct
title Toward an Automated System for Nondestructive Estimation of Plant Biomass
title_full Toward an Automated System for Nondestructive Estimation of Plant Biomass
title_fullStr Toward an Automated System for Nondestructive Estimation of Plant Biomass
title_full_unstemmed Toward an Automated System for Nondestructive Estimation of Plant Biomass
title_short Toward an Automated System for Nondestructive Estimation of Plant Biomass
title_sort toward an automated system for nondestructive estimation of plant biomass
url https://doi.org/10.1002/pld3.70043
work_keys_str_mv AT randallkliman towardanautomatedsystemfornondestructiveestimationofplantbiomass
AT yuankaihuang towardanautomatedsystemfornondestructiveestimationofplantbiomass
AT yezhao towardanautomatedsystemfornondestructiveestimationofplantbiomass
AT yongshengchen towardanautomatedsystemfornondestructiveestimationofplantbiomass