Evaluation of peach tree growth characteristics under different irrigation strategies by LIDAR system: preliminary results

Abstract

In a four-year experiment on peach (Prunus persica L. Batsch ‘Andross’) for fruit processing, canopy volume and tree shape were evaluated by scanning trees with a Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) system: a non-destructive system based on low cost laser technology. A relationship was obtained between the measured LIDAR tree volume and yield and fruit weight, suggesting that LIDAR offered a good way to evaluate fruit tree production capacity. The tree volume estimation system performed well when it was used as a component in the statistical analysis of the effects of irrigation strategy on productivity.