This paper evaluates the potential of very high resolution multispectral (Worldview-3) satellite imagery for mapping yield parameters in avocado and macadamia orchards. An evaluation of 18 structural and pigment based vegetation indices (VIs) derived from Worldview-3 imagery identified a positive relationship to nut/ fruit weight (kg/tree) R2>0.69 for macadamia and R2>0.68 for avocado; and nut/ fruit number (per tree) R2>0.6 for macadamia and R2>0.61 for avocado. Using the algorithms derived between the optimal VI and the measured parameter, yield and nut/ fruit number maps were derived for each block. In the absence of a commercial yield monitor, the resulting yield maps offer significant benefit to growers for improving orchard management, harvest scheduling, and forward selling decisions.

Yield mapping techniques have only recently started to be implemented by the Californian wine grape industry, but the advancement has necessitated new processing methods for large vineyards. The process for mapping large blocks harvested with multiple machines has only recently occurred and implies that their yield monitors have to be calibrated and corrected to the same scale. Here we discuss two methods for processing yield maps at the commercial level. Method 1 depends on many calibrations with delivered fruit weight to a winery. Method 2 normalizes raw files automatically can reduce total processing time by up to 90%.