GeoNav: Enhancing field phenotyping with high‐precision global navigation systems integration in the Field Book mobile application

Field data collection is a key activity in plant breeding, underpinning efforts to develop crop varieties with improved yields, disease resistance, and climate adaptability. Accurately associating data with the correct field plots is critical for selection and genetic improvement but can be challenging, especially in large experiments. We report the integration of external real‐time kinematic global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receivers into the Field Book application, a widely used tool for recording field data. We introduce a new GNSS trait format for capturing geospatial data, along with a GeoNavigation (GeoNav) feature that guides researchers through fields by automatically identifying and navigating to the nearest plot based on their location. These improvements allow researchers to collect and navigate geospatial information while recording trait data, significantly reducing the risk of associating that data with the wrong plot. To demonstrate the utility of this tool, we performed a case study in a mature peach orchard and showed how the GeoNav feature is used to streamline data collection. Results showed improved efficiency and accuracy in navigating between plots, with minimal issues in repeatability between users. The integration of GNSS into Field Book represents a significant step forward in the precision and ease of data collection for plant breeding programs, enhancing both operational efficiency and data quality.