Investigation of early detection possibilities of sugar beet disease with machine learning algorithms based on multispectral reflection

Traditionally, diagnosis and monitoring of agricultural diseases are carried out through on-site observation and inspection. These methods are time-consuming and may represent limited samples. Therefore, remote sensing technology has become an important tool in disease detection and monitoring in agriculture. In the research, Cercospora leaf spot ( Cercospora beticola sacc. ) disease, which cause significant economic losses in sugar beet production, were detected in the early stages using machine learning algorithms using non-invasive multispectral images taken with UAV under field conditions is intended to be determined. The research was fulfilled using images from the grower fields in two regions where the disease was observed intensively. Index value data from digital surface model maps created by processing the images taken were used as training and test data. Numerical data was tested using five different supervised machine learning methods. The success of the analyzed models in predicting disease formation from the index values obtained from the images taken and the physiological changes that occur before the disease agents appear on sugar beet leaves was over 70%. Among the models compared in the study, the k-nearest neighbor classifier (KNN) model gave the highest success in both diseases, with 83% accuracy and 76% and 86% f1-score values. The support vector machines model followed the KNN model with 77% accuracy, 75%, and 86% f1-score values. According to the results of the research, it has been revealed that plant diseases have the potential for pre-symptomatic detection, and by processing the images obtained with UAV-based MS images, it is possible to detect diseases in the early period.