Using LIDAR for forage yield measurement of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) field plots

Perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) is the most important forage species in New Zealand and one of the most important species in Europe and Australia.A LIDAR-based tool for non-invasive estimation of plant biomass in perennial ryegrass field plots was developed with the aim to measure the variation for plant foliage yield among 12 cultivars. Phenotypic data were collected both with a mechanical harvester and using the LIDAR system over the growing season. Significant (P<0.05) variation was observed among cultivars. Significant (P<0.0005) correlations were observed between processed LIDAR data and fresh and dry weights of plant foliage biomass with R2 values of 0.78 and 0.76, respectively.