Lightweight Deep Learning Models Deployment for Corn Growth Stage Classification Using PhenoCam Images

Abstract

Integrating precision agriculture (PA, a data-driven agricultural management system) with deep learning (DL) models can effectively support various activities, including yield prediction, crop health monitoring, field task automation, and decision-making. Taking advantage of such data-driven methodologies typically requires desktops, high-performance computing systems, and cloud clusters for data analysis, but their portability limits in-field applications. However, a single board computer, such as Raspberry Pi, offers a compact, lightweight, cost-efficient, easy-to-use, and feature-rich portable computing device which is ideal for in-field decision-making in PA applications. One such in-field application is crop growth stage classification for better crop management. Therefore, in this study, eight corn growth stages were classified using PhenoCam (near-surface [proximal] remote sensing network camera)imagery collected from ten PhenoCam sites. Four lightweight DL models were developed, ELiteCrop0, ELiteCrop1, ELiteCrop4, and MobNetCropV2, and evaluated across five image vertical clipping levels(0 %–40 %) using a supercomputer. The optimized model was subsequently deployed on a Raspberry Pi5 for edge inference. Model training accounted for the majority of the total CPU time, exceeding 97 %, while the testing times ranged from 0.01 min to 0.12 min, enabling real-time applications. Among the models, ELiteCrop0 achieved the most balanced performance with a confusion-matrix diagonal ratio(CMDR) of 0.93, followed by ELiteCrop1 (CMDR = 0.92). Overall, model performance decreased with increasing vertical clipping; therefore, a moderate image clipping (0 %–10 %) was recommended for improved computational efficiency. Analysis with a supercomputer produced an intrasite (same train sites)accuracy of 0.90–0.93 (Raspberry Pi: 0.78–0.81) and an intersite (new test sites) accuracy of 0.48–0.50(Raspberry Pi: 0.41–0.43), indicating challenges with model generalization. Raspberry Pi successfully processed ≈ 1000 images/min under safe operating conditions (68◦C). Future work should focus on extending the multi-site dataset to improve cross-site performance. Hence, this study presents a scalable and cost-effective solution for real-time corn growth stage monitoring in PA.

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