An Image Analysis Method for Lettuce Leaf and Root Growth Analysis in Hydroponic Culture

We are going to develop an ultra-small nutrients analyzer, a compact 3D-monitor (shape, color, etc.), and an ultra-light environment sensor (light intensity, temperature, humidity, CO2, etc.), which can be installed near plants. Accordingly, plant growth estimation technologies based on micro-fluidic circuit model simulating plant vascular system are being developed. The model will be frequently corrected by using updated data given by those sensors. Furthermore, by making use of the estimation technologies, we try to find out suitable cultivation condition for producing plants having aimed characters. In this paper, in order to develop plant growth estimation technologies, we propose a method to analyze the growth of lettuce leaves and roots by image analysis based on visible and thermography thermal imagers captured by cameras in real time and non-destructive leaf and root growth in lettuce hydroponic culture.