Assessment of mobile NIRS systems on combine harvesters and choppers in a plant breeding context

In a typical commercial breeding program in Europe, the conventional procedure for determination of dry matter content and quality traits involves drawing a small grain sample from each harvested plot, sample transportation, weighing immediately after gathering in the field and again after drying in an oven at the station. For determination of quality traits, each sample must be additionally ground for chemical or physical analyses. This whole process is expensive, laborious, and time-consuming. Another major drawback for breeding purposes, is that the results are commonly available several weeks after harvest, when the selection decision for planting the next generation has already been made.

Advancements in NIRS technology make it possible to take near-infrared measurements directly during the harvesting process on the plot combine harvester. This process is referred to as NIRS online. NIRS online automatizes the assessment of each harvested plot, and the information for making selection decision is rapidly available to plan the next generation. The objective of this project is to examine the potential of NIRS online for determination of dry matter content and quality traits in maize grain, maize forage, rapeseed, wheat and triticale in a plant breeding context.