Speaker
Description
Background and Objectives - Crop growth models are essential for modern Decision Support Systems (DSS) to optimize water and nitrogen (N) management. However, conventional models rely strictly on macro-scale inputs (weather, soil, and satellite imaging), ignoring the rapid metabolic and biophysical pathways that trigger within 5 to 120 minutes of fertilizer application. This research aims to bridge this gap by integrating high-resolution, real-time data from mobile Positron Emission Tomography (PET) into traditional agroecological models to enable early detection of treatment effectiveness and improve agricultural sustainability.
Methods - We utilize scalable and mobile PET systems designed for both controlled laboratories and open-field conditions. By deploying these non-invasive imaging systems in the field, we capture real-time quantitative biophysical transport and metabolic phenomena within crops immediately following nitrogen treatment. This high-frequency physiological data is then coupled and integrated with traditional, large-scale agroclimatic variables and satellite remote sensing data to enrich existing crop biophysical models.
Preliminary Results - Our integration demonstrates that combining in-field PET imaging with traditional models provides unprecedented insight into the crop’s immediate phenological state. In wheat and spinach examples we demonstrate that proper modeling of time-dynamic PET can (1) visualize and predict the correct fertilizer to be used (2) predict with accuracy a phenologic state and steer the administration of fertilizers.
Keywords: Positron Emission Tomography (PET); Agroecological Modelling; Precision Agriculture; Nitrogen Management; Biophysical Transport
References:
[1] E. Antonecchia, N. D’Ascenzo, S. Cantalamessa, W. Chang, M. Ciardiello, M. Kattan, A. Nematpour, G. Pagnani, F. Palazzo, D. Punzet, G. Shen, F. Zhou, M. Pisante, Q. Xie, Development and Evaluation of a Prototype of Shape-Adaptable and Portable All-Digital PET System for In-Lab and In-Field Plant Imaging, IEEE Trans. Nucl. Sci. 71 (2024) 113–120.
[2] E. Antonecchia, G. Pagnani, A. Nematpour, D. Passaretti, N. D’Ascenzo, M. Pisante, Assessing the effects of biostimulants on spinach through a Field-to-Lab approach for PET imaging, Smart Agric. Technol. 12 (2025) 101298.
[3] N. D'Ascenzo, M. Rafecas, Potential and challenges of Positron Emission Tomography beyond conventional preclinical and clinical imaging, Zeit. Med. Phys.,2026(Accepted,Online).
| Are you participating to the "AnaEE Environmental Rising Star Award "? | No |
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