During his PhD studies, Shaohui Zhang focused on enhancing monitoring grass growth using novel remote sensing and modeling tools. His research emphasized the potential of using canopy images or reflectance from optical sensors combined with the radiation use efficiency model (CASA), machine learning algorithms, stacking learning on grass biomass, nitrogen status, and quality diagnosis. He also evaluated the performance of crop process-based models on grassland N balance.
The research is of great interest to Denmark and internationally for quantifying the potential of field-scale commercial sensors (such as the Yara N sensor) and UAVs (multispectral imagery) for intensively managed and diverse grasslands.

The PhD study was completed at the Department of Agroecology, Faculty of Technical Sciences, Aarhus University.

This summary was prepared by the PhD student.

Time: Monday, 11 November 2024 at 10:00
Place: Auditorium, AU Viborg, Aarhus University, Blichers Alle 20, 8830 Tjele
Title of PhD thesis: New remote sensing and process-based tools to monitor growth of diversified grass and grass-legume systems

Contact information: Shaohui Zhang, e-mail: shaohui.zhang@agro.au.dk, tel.: +45 50283551

Members of the assessment committee:
Research & Studies Coordinator Chariton Kalaitzidis, Dept of Geoinformation in Environmental Management, Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Chania, Greece

Professor emeritus Jan Kofod Schjørring, Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark

Senior researcher Iris Vogeler Cronin (chair), Department of Agroecology, Aarhus University, Denmark

Main supervisor:
Senior Researcher Poul Erik Lærke, Department of Agroecology, Aarhus University, Denmark

Co-supervisor:
Senior Adviser Kiril Manevski, Department of Agroecology, Aarhus University, Denmark

Professor Mathias Neumann Andersen, Department of Agroecology, Aarhus University, Denmark

Language: The PhD dissertation will be defended in English

The defence is public.
The PhD thesis is available for reading at the Graduate School of Technical Sciences/GSTS, Ny Munkegade 120, building 1521, 8000 Aarhus C.