Comparative Performance Evaluation of Low-Cost, Continuous, Field-Deployable Trail Cameras for Agricultural Field Monitoring

Monitoring plant traits such as chlorophyll content and stress response is essential for agricultural research and crop management. However, traditional phenotyping methods are often destructive, labor-intensive, and lack temporal resolution. Continuous imaging using digital cameras offers a non-invasive approach to tracking plant development over time. This study evaluated trail cameras commonly used in ecological research for their effectiveness in continuous, nondestructive plant monitoring in an agricultural setting. Eight cameras were deployed at canopy height in a cranberry field to capture images and temperature data at 30 min intervals over a 15-day period. Based on operational reliability and data quality, four cameras were shortlisted for detailed analysis. Key performance parameters included image quality (blur, color cast, and noise), temperature measurement accuracy, and battery longevity. Temperature readings were compared with data from a canopy-level probe sensor and a dike-level weather station. Cameras 3, 5, and 7 each demonstrated strengths across different performance metrics, with Camera 3 excelling in battery longevity (maintaining 100% capacity over 15 days) and temperature correlation (R2 up to 0.983), Camera 5 showing superior color accuracy (lowest color cast score: 9.679 ± 0.06), and Camera 7 achieving the lowest noise levels (0.906 ± 0.002) along with highly consistent imaging performance. These models also demonstrated reliable temperature measurement accuracy, with coefficients of determination (R2) ranging from 0.935 to 0.983 when compared with canopy-level probe data. Overall, the results indicate that each camera offers distinct advantages depending on the specific monitoring requirements, such as image clarity, color accuracy, noise reduction, or continuous field deployment. The results highlight trail cameras as affordable and reliable tools for remote, non-destructive, and continuous plant monitoring, offering valuable guidance for researchers in plant phenotyping and crop management.