Linear Discriminant Analysis for Predicting Net Blotch Severity in Spring Barley with Meteorological Data in Finland

Outi Ruusunen (), Marja Jalli, Lauri Jauhiainen, Mika Ruusunen and Kauko Leiviskä
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Outi Ruusunen: Control Engineering, Environmental and Chemical Engineering Research Unit, University of Oulu, 90014 Oulu, Finland
Marja Jalli: Natural Resources Institute Finland, 31600 Jokioinen, Finland
Lauri Jauhiainen: Natural Resources Institute Finland, 31600 Jokioinen, Finland
Mika Ruusunen: Control Engineering, Environmental and Chemical Engineering Research Unit, University of Oulu, 90014 Oulu, Finland
Kauko Leiviskä: Control Engineering, Environmental and Chemical Engineering Research Unit, University of Oulu, 90014 Oulu, Finland

Agriculture, 2024, vol. 14, issue 10, 1-18

Abstract: Predictive information on plant diseases could help to reduce and optimize the usage of pesticides in agriculture. This research presents classification procedures with linear discriminant analysis to predict three possible severity levels of net blotch in spring barley in Finland. The weather data utilized for classification included mathematical transformations, namely features of outdoor temperature and air humidity with calculated dew point temperature values. Historical field observations of net blotch density were utilized as a target class for the identification of classifiers. The performance of classifiers was analyzed in sliding data windows of two weeks with selected, cumulative, summed feature values. According to classification results from 36 yearly data sets, the prediction of net blotch occurrence in spring barley in Finland can be considered as a linearly separable classification task. Furthermore, this can be achieved with linear discriminant analysis by combining the output probabilities of separate binary classifiers identified for each severity level of net blotch disease. In this case, perfect classification with a resolution of three different net blotch severity levels was achieved during the first 50 days from the beginning of the growing season. This strongly suggests that real-time classification based on a few weather variables measured on a daily basis can be applied to estimate the severity of net blotch in advance. This allows application of the principles of integrated pest management (IPM) and usage of pesticides only when there is a proven need.

Keywords: barley; net blotch; classification model; decision support system (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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