Exemplary sap flow sensors are provided. A sap flow sensor includes a substrate having a main body and at least two arms spaced apart from one another. The at least two arms extend from the main body. The sap flow sensor further includes a sap flow gauge that is disposed on the substrate. The sap flow gauge is configured to monitor a flow rate of sap through a stem of a plant. The sap flow gauge includes a heating element coupled to an arm of the at least two arms. The sap flow gauge further includes a first temperature sensor and a second temperature sensor disposed on opposite sides of the heating element. The first temperature sensor and the second temperature sensor each coupled to a neighboring arm of the at least two arms.

Methods are provided for improving performance of a computing system used to model potential crop yield. In one example embodiment, a computer-implemented method includes generating a model of potential crop yield, as a function of planting date and relative maturity based, at least in part, on one or more relative maturity maps, one or more planting date maps, and one or more actual production history maps, and storing the model in a memory of the server computer system. The method also includes receiving, via an interface at a field manager computing device, a selection of a particular field and computing, from the model of potential crop yield, a potential yield for the particular field based, at least in part, on a planting date for the particular field, a relative maturity value, and values representing actual production history for the particular field.

Methods are provided for improving performance of a computing system used to model potential crop yield. In one example embodiment, a computer-implemented method includes generating a model of potential crop yield, as a function of planting date and relative maturity based, at least in part, on one or more relative maturity maps, one or more planting date maps, and one or more actual production history maps, and storing the model in a memory of the server computer system. The method also includes receiving, via an interface at a field manager computing device, a selection of a particular field and computing, from the model of potential crop yield, a potential yield for the particular field based, at least in part, on a planting date for the particular field, a relative maturity value, and values representing actual production history for the particular field.

A biological lighting system to provide temporally- and spatially-modulated photon flux output and spectral power distributions to plants on a circadian and circannual basis, or circadian and life cycle basis, to maximize effective and efficient growth in a horticultural setting. The photon flux or irradiance output and the spectral power distribution are modulated to match circadian and circannual rhythms, with individual or multiple luminaires controlled through one or more controllers. Different lighting spectra can be employed depending on the direction of illumination. The photon flux or irradiance output and the spectral power distribution may be set as best suited for any particular plant species, and the system is also useful for raising animals.

An inspection system is presented for use in monitoring plants' conditions in a plant growing area. The inspection system comprises: an optical probe comprising at least one imaging set, each imaging set comprising: a flash illuminator unit; an imaging unit configured with a predetermined resolution; and a sensing unit; the optical probe being configured and operable to perform one or more imaging sessions on a target in a plant growing area at a target location during a movement of the optical probe along a movement path in a vicinity of the target location, said sensing unit comprising a distance sensing element configured and operable to determine an instantaneous distance between the imaging unit and the target being imaged, and generate distance sensing data indicative thereof; and a control unit configured and operable to be responsive to the distance sensing data to initiate the imaging session and synchronize operation of the flash illuminator unit and the imaging unit to capture images of the target by the optical probe, thereby enabling analyzing the images and determining a condition of the target being indicative of at least one of pest, insect and disease presence at the target.

An inspection system is presented for use in monitoring plants' conditions in a plant growing area. The inspection system comprises: an optical probe comprising at least one imaging set, each imaging set comprising: a flash illuminator unit; an imaging unit configured with a predetermined resolution; and a sensing unit; the optical probe being configured and operable to perform one or more imaging sessions on a target in a plant growing area at a target location during a movement of the optical probe along a movement path in a vicinity of the target location, said sensing unit comprising a distance sensing element configured and operable to determine an instantaneous distance between the imaging unit and the target being imaged, and generate distance sensing data indicative thereof; and a control unit configured and operable to be responsive to the distance sensing data to initiate the imaging session and synchronize operation of the flash illuminator unit and the imaging unit to capture images of the target by the optical probe, thereby enabling analyzing the images and determining a condition of the target being indicative of at least one of pest, insect and disease presence at the target.

The present disclosure relates to methods and systems for obtaining image information of an organism including a set of optical data; calculating a growth index based on the set of optical data; and calculating an anticipated harvest time based on the growth index, where the image information includes at least one of: (a) visible image data obtained from an image sensor and non-visible image data obtained from the image sensor, and (b) a set of image data from at least two image capture devices, where the at least two image capture devices capture the set of image data from at least two positions.

The present disclosure relates to methods and systems for obtaining image information of an organism including a set of optical data; calculating a growth index based on the set of optical data; and calculating an anticipated harvest time based on the growth index, where the image information includes at least one of: (a) visible image data obtained from an image sensor and non-visible image data obtained from the image sensor, and (b) a set of image data from at least two image capture devices, where the at least two image capture devices capture the set of image data from at least two positions.

A system for plant parameter detection, including: a plant morphology sensor having a first field of view and configured to record a morphology measurement of a plant portion and an ambient environment adjacent the plant, a plant physiology sensor having a second field of view and configured to record a plant physiology parameter measurement of a plant portion and an ambient environment adjacent the plant, wherein the second field of view overlaps with the first field of view; a support statically coupling the plant morphology sensor to the physiology sensor, and a computing system configured to: identify a plant set of pixels within the physiology measurement based on the morphology measurement; determine physiology values for each pixel of the plant set of pixels; and extract a growth parameter based on the physiology values.

A system for plant parameter detection, including: a plant morphology sensor having a first field of view and configured to record a morphology measurement of a plant portion and an ambient environment adjacent the plant, a plant physiology sensor having a second field of view and configured to record a plant physiology parameter measurement of a plant portion and an ambient environment adjacent the plant, wherein the second field of view overlaps with the first field of view; a support statically coupling the plant morphology sensor to the physiology sensor, and a computing system configured to: identify a plant set of pixels within the physiology measurement based on the morphology measurement; determine physiology values for each pixel of the plant set of pixels; and extract a growth parameter based on the physiology values.