It has been suggested that apple (
Malus * domestica Borkh) flowering distribution maps can be used for site-specific management decisions. The objectives of this study were
(i) to study the flower density variability in an apple orchard using image analysis and (ii) to model the correlation between
flower density as determined from image analysis and fruit yield. The research was carried out in a commercial apple orchard
in Central Greece. In April 2007, when the trees were at full bloom, photos of the trees were taken following a systematic
uniform random sampling procedure. In September 2007, yield mapping was carried out measuring yield per ten trees and recording
the position of the centre of the ten trees. Using this data (the measured yield of the trees and the pictures samples, representing
the flower distribution), an image processing-based algorithm was developed that predicts tree yield by analyzing the picture
of the tree at full bloom. For the evaluation of the algorithm, a case study scenario is presented where the error of the
predicted yield was set at 18%. These results indicated that potential yield could be predicted early in the season from flowering
distribution maps and could be used for orchard management during the growing season.
Keywords Flower map – Yield map – Site-specific management – Image processing