A Fresh Take on Precision Agriculture in Citrus

As technology has developed, it has become clear that advanced agricultural analytics can optimize crop quality and yield for bigger, better harvests in the field and at the bank. With the value of citrus fruit like oranges and mandarins on the rise, Pollen Systems is helping growers get the most out of these crops with a specialized drone monitoring plan customizable for winter and summer varieties.

Our first two flights are most essential for citrus, establishing a preseason baseline of plant vigor using our multispectral cameras and targeting management to ensure a healthy flowering period before ripening. One or more flights per month during growth and ripening are recommended to address variability and locate symptoms of various pests and disease, such as crown rot or citrus greening. Optimally, irrigation and fruit snapshots allow timely fertigation to support a bountiful yield and robust health through the winter months.

This NDVI image shows mandarin trees in the northern area register lower vigor than their surroundings. Using circles, NDVI and NDRE statistics are captured for each plan to sort and identify priority management areas.

Flights return in spring to monitor new growth. For some crops, a second round of bloom and fruit snapshots guide a second harvest, while they supply essential pest monitoring and uniformity scouting data for the rest. The final flight of the season captures a landmark to be compared year after year and ensures that crops are on the right track for spring and summer.

Ultimately, we value the expertise our customers bring to the table, implementing collaborative solutions tailored for each grower’s needs. If this got your creative juices started on ideas for your own fields, reach out to us to learn more. We are happy to detail our offerings and draft a customized monitoring plan with you!