MEASUREMENT AND SIMULATION OF POTATO LEAF-AREA USING IMAGE-PROCESSING .2. MODEL RESULTS

The objectives of this study were to validate a potato canopy architecture simulation model and use it to evaluate an image processing method of measuring potato leaf area. The model was an accurate simulation of potato canopy architecture based on simulated images and simulated leaf area measurements. The simulation model was then used to show that leaf area per volume had the greatest influence on simulated image processing-measured leaf area. Changing lamina, petiole, or side view angle had a small effect on simulated image processing-measured leaf area. Use of a 3 x 3 median filter affected simulated image processing-measured leaf area only for plants having leaf area greater than 0.116 m2. Changing the hardware resolution, either increasing or decreasing by a factor of four, had no significant effect on simulated image processing-measured leaf area.