Implementation & Analysis of Edge Detection

Algorithms for Pest Detection in Plants

Mr. Srinivas K S, Mrs. USHA B S#1, Dr. S Sandya#1, Mr.Sudhir Rao Rupanagudi#2

#1 : Dept of ECE, VTU

Channasandra, Subramanyapura PO,
Bengaluru
sandya9prasad@gmail.com
bsusha@gmail.com

#2: Technical Consultant –Digital FPGA Design Engineer,

WorldServe Education, Bengaluru
worldserve.education@gmail.com

Abstract— There are different algorithms to perform edge detection:

This paper is written keeping in mind the best interests of
farmers worldwide. The growth of pests on yielding crops
is a nuisance that is faced by agriculturists. A pest is any
organism that spreads disease, causes destruction or is
otherwise a nuisance. Some examples of pests are
mosquitoes, rodents, and weeds. The most common pests
affecting plants are Aphids, Fungus, Gnats, Flies, Thrips,
Slugs, Snails, Mites and Caterpillars. There is a pressing
requirement to detect these pests at an early stage and
suggest remedies so that much of the damage can be
avoided and yield can be improved. This can be achieved
through an Automatic pest control system. It uses image
processing algorithms which detect growth of pests. This
system consists of an Image Capturing Unit (ICU), Mote,
Image Transfer Unit (ITU), Host system which performs
image processing & a database. As part of the host system
image processing unit, an edge detection algorithm is used
to detect pests. The results of implementing various edge
detection algorithms and the success rate of detecting pests
using these algorithms is presented in the paper.
Keywords— Automatic Pest Control System, Edge detection,
Image processing, Pest detection, Canny, Roberts, Laplacian
of Gaussian, Prewitt, Sobel Edge Detection, Segmentation
a) Sobel
b) Prewitt
c) Canny
d) Roberts
e) Laplacian of Gaussian
II. DIFFERENT ALGORITHMS IN DETAIL
The various edge detection algorithms mentioned above,
involve a two dimensional (2-D) spatial gradient measurement
on the image. This is performed by convolving two special 2-
D matrices of coefficients with the input image. One of the 2-
D matrices is convolved from left to right, horizontally over
the image (Horizontal mask - Gx), whilst the other is
convolved in the vertical axis (Vertical Mask - Gy). The
resultant images after convolution are combined to obtain the
gradient magnitude of the image using Equation 1. This
highlights the edges of various objects in the image.
Resultant Image = [Gx2+Gy2] 1/2 (1)
Coefficients vary based on the method of edge detection
chosen. The different 2-D matrices of Gx and Gy for different
methods have been mentioned in the following sections.

I. INTRODUCTION A. Sobel Edge Detection Algorithm [2]

Edges characterize boundaries of an image. Edges in -1 0 +1
images are areas with strong intensity contrasts – a jump in -2 0 +2
intensity from one pixel to the next. Edge detecting an image Horizontal Coefficients (Gx) =
-1 0 +1
significantly reduces the amount of data and filters out useless
information, while preserving the important structural
-1 -2 -1
properties in an image [1]. This property could in turn be used
Vertical Coefficients (Gy) = 0 0 0
to detect the boundaries of pests affecting plants.
+1 +2 +1
B. Prewitt Edge Detection Algorithm[3]

-1 0 +1
Horizontal Coefficients (Gx) = -1 0 +1
-1 0 +1

-1 -1 -1
Vertical Coefficients (Gy) = 0 0 0
+1 +1 +1

C. Canny Edge Detection algorithm[4]

-1 0 +1
Horizontal Coefficients (Gx) = -2 0 +2
-1 0 +1

+1 +2 +1
Vertical Coefficients (Gy) = 0 0 0
-1 -2 -1 Figure 1: Leaf affected by pests

D. Roberts Edge Detection Algorithm[5]

It is interesting to note that this method utilizes a 2-D

matrix of 2*2 instead of 3*3 mask.

Horizontal Coefficients (Gx) = -1 0

0 +1

Vertical Coefficients (Gy) = 0 -1

+1 0

E. Laplacian of Gaussian Edge Detection algorithm[6]

Figure 2 : Sobel Edge Detected Output
0 -1 0
Horizontal Coefficients (Gx) = -1 4 -1
0 -1 0

-1 -1 -1
Vertical Coefficients (Gy) = -1 8 -1
-1 -1 -1

III. MATLAB IMPLEMENTATION AND SIMULINK

The five algorithms introduced in Section II were

implemented using MATLAB. A standard leaf affected by
different pests (fig 1) was used as our input.
After performing edge detection on the leaf affected by the
pest, a simple segmentation was performed by subtracting the
edge detected image with an image of a leaf unaffected by
pests. The results obtained are shown in fig. 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6.
Figure 3 : Prewitt Edge Detected Output

Figure 4 : Canny Edge Detected Output
Figure 5 : Roberts Edge Detected Output
Figure 6 : Laplacian Of Gaussian Edge Detected Output
IV. RESULTS
On a visual comparison of the images obtained (fig. 2-6)
using the aforementioned algorithms for edge detection, it can
be clearly seen that the edge detection performed using the
Prewitt Algorithm provides the finest details of the pest, in
comparison with the other algorithms. This has been encircled
and shown in Figure 3.
Robert’s edge detection (Fig. 5) is disadvantageous due to
poor quality of the output image obtained. It must be noted
that this algorithm is slower in implementation since
convolution is performed using a 2*2 matrix instead of a 3*3.
Laplacian of Gaussian Algorithm is also disadvantageous
due to presence of large amount of artifacts and noise as
shown in Figure 6. The pests are not clearly visible in
comparison with the other cases.
V. CONCLUSIONS
In this paper we have presented a comparative study of pest
detection in plants using different edge detection algorithms
using Matlab. It can be concluded that the Prewitt algorithm
provides perfect results in detection and highlighting of pests.
It would be the algorithm of choice when hardware
implementation of the image processor for pest detection is
performed. Robert’s edge detection and Laplacian of Gaussian
Algorithm is best to be avoided for the same purpose.
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