2011 Annual Report 1a.Objectives (from AD-416) The overall objective of this study is to develop an integration sensor and instrumentation system for measuring crop conditions. The specific objectives are:. 1)develop an optoelectronic sensor for measuring crop conditions;. 2)design an interface module to linking all the sensors and instruments with a PC;. 3)use multisensor data fusion technology for data analyses; and. 4)develop software for data acquisition and data analyses. 1b.Approach (from AD-416) An integrated sensor and instrumentation system will be developed to measure real-time crop conditions including normalized difference vegetative index (NDVI), biomass, crop canopy structure, and crop height. Individual sensor components will be calibrated and tested under laboratory and field conditions prior to system integration. The integration system includes crop height sensor, crop canopy analyzer for leaf area index and Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR), NDVI sensor, multispectral camera, and a hyperspectral radiometer. The system will be interfaced with a DGPS receiver to provide spatial coordinates for all sensor readings. Data will be imported into a GIS for georeferencing purposes. The experimental design will be a randomized complete block with treatments arranged as split-split plots. The SAS Proc Glimmix will be used for data analyses. Multisensor data fusion will integrate and analyze data from these sensors to provide an assessment of crop structure and environment. 3.Progress Report The goal of this project is to develop instrumentation-based methodology for more accurate assessment of the overall health and vitality of important southern agricultural crops. Three years of field research under this project have led to the development of an integrated sensor and instrumentation system that can be used for measuring selected crop condition/health parameters; the system has been applied to the accurate measurement of crop nitrogen status. In FY 2011, the multi-sensor data fusion technology developed by the project was used for data analysis and for combining ground-based sensor data with aerial imaging data for enhanced differentiation between crop types. Work under this project, as it progresses, will develop important new technology and protocols for monitoring the overall health status of important agricultural crops in real time. Such information will drive management practices to maximize crop yields and quality while minimizing inputs. The ADODR of this project and the cooperator are located in close physical proximity and are in contact with one another on an ongoing basis. Because of this close physical relationship, the ADODR and the cooperator (or key personnel working under the cooperator) meet and discuss the direction and progress of the work on a regular basis.