Utilizing an Aerial Platform to Assess Cotton Plant Population

Plant stand counts are the most commonly utilized method to determine population across a given area. This method consists of measuring a selected linear distance of plant row, usually a 1/1000th fraction of row feet per acre, counting the number of plants within this selected distance, and multiplying the number of plants by 1000 to determine plants per acre. This methodology is usually repeated a handful of times to make a general prediction of the plant population for a given field in a short period of time. However, this method of stand assessment is reliant on a highly uniform plant population across the entire field. Plant population assessment is one of the primary decision making tools utilized to determine if replanting is necessary in the presence of a marginal stand. One proposed use of UASs and digital imagery platforms is to assess plant stands, producing quantitative data to support replant decisions. Aerial images can be taken of a large area in a short period of time, theoretically increasing the potential of plant stand accuracy while decreasing the time required to collect data. More evidence must be provided in regards to these 2 key factors to help integrate UAS and digital imagery into current scouting practices. The scope of this study evaluates the accuracy and precision of a UAS system in assessing and estimating cotton plant population.