Monitoring of a calcium biofortification workflow for tubers of Solanum Tuberosum L. cv. Picasso using smart farming technology

Due to the rapid growth of the population worldwide and the need of providing food safety in large crop productions, UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) are being used in agriculture to provide valuable data for decision making. Accordingly, through precision agriculture, an efficient management of resources, using data obtained by the technologies, is possible. Considering that through remote sensed data collected in a crop region, it is possible to create NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) maps, which are a powerful tool to detect, namely stresses in plants, this study aimed to access the impact of Ca biofortification process in leaves of Solanum tuberosum L. cv. Picasso. As such, using as a test system, an experimental production field of potato tubers (GPS coordinates - 39o 16’ 38,816’’ N; 9o 15’ 9,128’’W), plants were submitted to a Ca biofortification workflow through foliar spraying with CaCl2 or, alternatively, chelated calcium (Ca EDTA) at concentrations of 12 and 24 kg ha−1. It was found a lower average of NDVI in Ca(EDTA) 12 kg ha-1 treatment after the 4th foliar application, which through the application of the CieLab scale correlated with showed a lower L (darker color) and hue parameters, regarding the remaining treatments. Additionally, a higher Ca content was quantified in the leaves. The obtained data is discussed to conclude that Ca(EDTA) 12 kg ha-1 triggers a lower vigor in Picasso potatoes leaves.