When plants face stress, they will emit specific signals that cannot be seen by the naked eye. However, relying on modern technology, we can capture and interpret such information and monitor the stress signals of plants. This is of great significance for precision agriculture, forest protection and urban greening management. It can not only help us implement timely intervention to save endangered plants, but also achieve efficient use of resources and promote the development of agriculture and ecological management in the direction of intelligence.
What are the types of plant stress signals?
When plants suffer from drought, when plants suffer from salinity, and when plants are attacked by diseases and insect pests, a variety of volatile organic compounds will be released. These chemical signals are the "language" used by plants to communicate with each other. These chemical signals are the "language" used by plants to communicate with the environment. For example, leaves that are eaten by insects will release specific substances, which serve as a warning to neighboring plants to strengthen their defenses. At the same time, plants infected by pathogenic bacteria may also release fungicidal or bacterial compounds as an indirect defense.
In addition to producing chemical signals, plants will also undergo a series of physical and physiological changes. Leaf temperature will rise abnormally due to weakened water transpiration. This is an early indicator of drought stress. Leaf color and angle will change slightly, and the growth of biomass will stop. These are also important stress characteristics. Together, these changes form a "barometer" of plant health, which requires careful observation.
How to Monitor Plants for Stress Signals
Traditional monitoring methods mainly rely on manual inspections in the fields and rely on experience to determine whether plants are diseased or lacking water. This method is highly dependent on personal experience and is very inefficient. It is difficult to detect early problems in a large area in time. Manual inspections are also prone to misjudgments due to subjective factors, thus missing the best opportunity for intervention.
Modern technical means mainly rely on remote sensing and sensors. Multispectral imaging technology can capture vegetation reflection spectrum information over a large area and quickly from the air or space platform. Spectral and imaging technology can capture vegetation reflection spectrum information over a large area and quickly on an air or space platform. By analyzing these spectral data, we are able to derive physiological parameters of the plant, water status such as chlorophyll content, etc. In addition, the sensor network deployed on the ground can continuously monitor micro-environmental data such as stem sap flow and soil moisture, providing a basis for accurate judgment.
What equipment is needed to monitor plant stress signals?
Those devices that can capture spectral information that cannot be perceived by the human eye include airborne, spaceborne platforms and handheld ground equipment. The core device is a spectral imager, which can effectively distinguish healthy and stressed vegetation by analyzing the reflectance of specific wavebands (such as the red edge band). Provide global procurement services for weak current intelligent products!
Another type of key equipment is the in-situ sensor network. There are stem flow meters installed on plant stems, which are used to accurately measure water transport rates. There are also multi-parameter soil sensors arranged in the field that can monitor moisture, EC values and temperature in real time. There are also thermal imaging cameras used to capture canopy temperature distribution. Together, these devices build an integrated monitoring system of heaven and earth.
Application of plant stress monitoring in agriculture
Within the scope of precision irrigation, stress monitoring technology plays an extremely critical role. With real-time monitoring of crop moisture conditions, the system can automatically start irrigation when the plants are really "thirsty" instead of relying on a fixed schedule. This can not only save water resources significantly, but also avoid root hypoxia and nutrient loss caused by over-irrigation, thereby improving crop yield and quality.
This technology is also extremely effective in providing early warning of pests and diseases. Spectral analysis can detect hidden signs of disease days or even weeks before they become visible to the naked eye. This provides farmers with valuable preparation time, allowing them to apply pesticides in a targeted manner and reduce the amount of blind spraying. This not only reduces costs but also reduces environmental pollution.
How monitoring data can help urban greening management
For ancient and famous trees in the city, the stress monitoring system can provide all-weather health protection. By monitoring their moisture status and photosynthesis efficiency, managers can formulate scientific maintenance plans to ensure the growth vitality of these precious green heritages. Timely detection of stress signals can also provide early warning of possible lodging risks, ensuring public safety.
In the maintenance of parks and public green spaces, stress monitoring data can guide refined water and fertilizer management. The system can achieve on-demand watering and fertilization based on the actual needs of plants in different areas, greatly improving management efficiency and water and fertilizer utilization, which is helpful in building a healthier, more beautiful and sustainable urban garden landscape.
Future development trends of plant stress monitoring technology
A key trend in the future is the miniaturization and cost reduction of monitoring equipment. With the progress of MEMS technology, that is, micro-electromechanical system technology and nanomaterials, smaller, cheaper and lower power consumption sensors will become a reality. This will make it possible to deploy large-scale and high-density sensor networks, thereby achieving unprecedented monitoring accuracy.
Another key direction is the deep integration of artificial intelligence and big data analysis. AI algorithms can automatically learn from massive multi-source monitoring data and build complex stress prediction models. This will enable the system to not only have the ability to identify the type and degree of current threats, but also have the ability to predict the development trend of threats in the future, achieving a leap from passive response to proactive warning.
When you manage your own garden or potted plants, what subtle signs can you use to determine whether the plants may be experiencing health problems? You are welcome to share your valuable experience in the comment area. If you find this article helpful, please like it and share it with more friends.
Leave a Reply