Technical Note: Measuring Grain and Insect Characteristics Using NIR Laser Array Technology

摘要

The potential of using a compact eight-wavelength near-infrared (NIR) laser array spectrometer for measuring wheat characteristics (hardness index, moisture content, and waxy character) and determining tsetse fly pupae sex was investigated and compared to a commercial single kernel near infrared (SKNIR) system. Wheat hardness was predicted accurately by both NIR systems and results were in close agreement with reference values. The accuracy of predicting moisture content by either system was similar with predicted values within 0.5% moisture content of the reference values. Waxy character was predicted by the laser system with less accuracy than the SKNIR system, but tsetse fly pupae sex was predicted with similar accuracies for both systems. Prediction equations derived from the laser spectra show that wavelengths influencing classification models generally agree with published literature. Thus, this research shows that a NIR laser array system can be used to predict some grain and insect traits with accuracy similar to a commercial NIR system and some predictions may be improved if other wavelengths are used in the laser array system