Research on Mass Prediction of Maize Kernel Based on Machine Vision and Machine Learning Algorithm

Yang Yu, Chenlong Fan, Qibin Li, Qinhao Wu, Yi Cheng, Xin Zhou, Tian He, Hao Li

The yield assessment process during maize harvesting is a necessary means to ensure farmers’ economic benefits and stable agricultural production. Predicting the mass of maize kernels is an important condition for yield detection. This study proposes a maize kernel mass prediction model based on machine vision and machine learning algorithms to determine whether the kernels are broken. By extracting the geometric features of maize kernels, a phenotypic feature dataset of maize kernels was constructed. Subsequently, popular machine learning algorithms were used to establish regression models for maize kernel mass, achieving quantitative prediction of maize kernel mass. The results indicate that the PLSR (Partial Least Squares Regression) and RF (Random Forest) algorithms are suitable for constructing mass prediction models for broken and unbroken kernels, respectively. The models established by the two algorithms achieved R-values of 0.941 and 0.925, respectively. Field trial results show that there is a strong linear relationship between the predicted maize kernel mass using the constructed model and the actual kernel mass. Therefore, this method can serve as an accurate, objective, and efficient detection method for maize yield.