Remote sensing –Beyond images Mexico 14-15 December 2013 The workshop was organized by CIMMYT Global Conservation Agriculture Program (GCAP) and funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), the Mexican Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fisheries and Food (SAGARPA), the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), CGIAR Research Program on Maize, the Cereal System Initiative for South Asia (CSISA) and the Sustainable Modernization of the Traditional Agriculture (MasAgro)

1. Estimating wheat root biomass
using ground penetrating radar
Sean M. Thompson, Alfredo Delgado, R. Esten Mason,
C. Mariano Cossani, Matthew P. Reynolds,
Amir M. H. Ibrahim, Ronald E. Lacey,
Robert A. Washington-Allen, and Dirk B. Hays
CIMMYT Remote Sensing - Beyond Images
December 14-15, 2013
© Sean M. Thompson 2013 - All Rights Reserved

2. Phenotyping roots
0-30 cm
30-60 cm
60-90 cm
90-120 cm
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© Sean M. Thompson 2013 - All Rights Reserved

3. Hypothesis
GPR is capable of phenotyping root biomass of wheat in
situ.
Objectives
Develop the use of GPR for phenotyping below ground
biomass, in the context of higher yield stability during
drought and high temperature stress.
• The validation of GPR to non-destructively detect wheat
roots in a controlled and stressed environment for
correlation to traditional destructive root measurements.
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© Sean M. Thompson 2013 - All Rights Reserved

4. Two-way travel time (nanoseconds)
Antenna
Antenna
00
–
02
–
04
–
06
–
08
–
10
–
12
–
Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 67:1607–1615 (2003)
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© Sean M. Thompson 2013 - All Rights Reserved

5. 0-30 cm
Plot width
30-60 cm
Antenna
Antenna
Antenna
60-90 cm
90-120 cm
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© Sean M. Thompson 2013 - All Rights Reserved

6. Waterlogging treatment
Control treatment
March 20, 2013 Pre-Waterlogging
April 8, 2013 (19) Waterlogging
April 16, 2013 (27) Waterlogging
(Images: R. Esten Mason)
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© Sean M. Thompson 2013 - All Rights Reserved

7. Geophysical
Archaeometry
Laboratory
GPR-Slice
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© Sean M. Thompson 2013 - All Rights Reserved

8. Spatial analysis
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© Sean M. Thompson 2013 - All Rights Reserved

9. Time slices
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© Sean M. Thompson 2013 - All Rights Reserved

10. Conclusions
• Spatial relationship between
plots and GPR amplitude
return in both control and
treatment.
• In field spatial variability
will need to be considered in
future GPR studies.
• Root biomass and depth can
be visualized by GPR .
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© Sean M. Thompson 2013 - All Rights Reserved

11. Looking forward
• CIMMYT
– Deeply rooted partnership
• IDS Multi Array System
– Root Depth / Biomass
– Root Architecture
– Field-Based HTP
• GPR-Slice
– Rapid Data Analysis
– User Friendly Interface
– In Field Data Processing
isdcorporation.com
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© Sean M. Thompson 2013 - All Rights Reserved

12. isdcorporation.com
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© Sean M. Thompson 2013 - All Rights Reserved

13. Support
Texas A&M AgriLife Research
Texas Cropping System Grant
Texas A&M University, Soil & Crop Sciences
Texas Wheat Producers Board
Wheat Physiological Breeding
Texas A&M University, Small Grains Breeding Program
International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center
Global Wheat Program, Wheat Physiology
Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research
United States Department of Agriculture
U.S. Borlaug Fellows in Global Food Security
Purdue University, Center for Global Food Security
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© Sean M. Thompson 2013 - All Rights Reserved

14. Team members
Texas A&M AgriLife
• Wheat Physiology, Small Grains Breeding
• Small Grains Extension
University of Arkansas
• Small Grains Breeding
CIMMYT
• Physiology
• Breeding
• Biostatistics
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© Sean M. Thompson 2013 - All Rights Reserved

15. Sean M. Thompson
sean.thompson@tamu.edu | precision-phenotyping.com
Alfredo Delgado
adelgado.tamu@gmail.com| soilcrop.tamu.edu
“Do not only practice your art, but force your way into
secrets, for it and knowledge can raise man to the
divine.” -Beethoven
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© Sean M. Thompson 2013 - All Rights Reserved