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ARS Home » Plains Area » Fargo, North Dakota » Edward T. Schafer Agricultural Research Center » Sugarbeet Research » Research » Research Project #444694

Research Project: SSBRI Non-destructive Sugar Beet Yield Estimation Using Ground Penetrating Radar for Breeding and Harvest Management

Location: Sugarbeet Research

Project Number: 3060-21000-045-013-S
Project Type: Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Sep 1, 2023
End Date: Dec 30, 2025

Objective:
(1) Develop novel GPR-based sugar beet root yield algorithms for breeding and selection; and (2) Develop novel GPR-based sugarbeet harvest timing and logistics algorithms.

Approach:
For Objective 1, nine sugarbeet germplasm lines and one hybrid will be planted in the spring of 2024 for the development of GPR-based yield selection algorithms. Each cultivar will be planted every three weeks starting May and through June 30th to generate a gradient of root masses. A GPR based on an air-launched antenna will be utilized. Background and dewow filters will be applied on the GPR radargrams to underline the subsurface variation. For Objective 2, sugarbeet field scans from MN and ND production fields will be obtained. Data will be analyzed for the development of sugarbeet harvest timing prediction and total yield logistic algorithms.