PRECISION AGRICULTURE
Vegetation indices
VEGETATION INDICES FOR KNOWING THE TERRAIN
Vegetation indices are an essential tool in precision agriculture, as they allow the conversion of image data into knowledge on the ground.
The indices that can be derived from multispectral images are different and, being all sensitive to changes in chlorophyll content and/or vegetative vigour, they allow detecting possible changes in plant physiology, through the indices it is possible to monitor the health status of crops.
The following table summarises the most important indices:
VEGETATION INDICES FOR KNOWING THE TERRAIN
Vegetation indices are an essential tool in precision agriculture, as they allow the conversion of image data into knowledge on the ground.
The indices that can be derived from multispectral images are different and, being all sensitive to changes in chlorophyll content and/or vegetative vigour, they allow detecting possible changes in plant physiology, through the indices it is possible to monitor the health status of crops.
The following table summarises the most important indices:
HIGH PRECISION PLANT COUNTING
Plant stand counting is an essential task in yield management. It allows growers to estimate plant population, density, germination rate, and plant health and make timely decisions that ultimately affect yield. Common manual methods of counting plant stands have helped growers for decades. They are based on visual inspection and calculation of the plant stand in small, predefined field areas. However, these methods are labor intensive and far from accurate.
WHY AND WHEN IS AN ACCURATE PLANT STAND COUNT NECESSARY?
There are situations where a low accuracy report is acceptable, but it is absolutely essential to have an accurate one if you intend to:
– Check seeding quality, especially if you are producing seed;
– Understand variable yield zones in fields;
– Receive accurate data during R&D projects;
– Estimate yield accurately in the early stages;
– Detect bandits;
– Make timely decisions, i.e. partially replant the field;
– Increase yield potential to meet production targets.
Why and when is an accurate plant stand count necessary?
There are situations where a low accuracy report is acceptable, but it is absolutely essential to have an accurate one if you intend to:
– Check seeding quality, especially if you are producing seed;
– Understand variable yield zones in fields;
– Receive accurate data during R&D projects;
– Estimate yield accurately in the early stages;
– Detect bandits;
– Make timely decisions, i.e. partially replant the field;
– Increase yield potential to meet production targets.
Characteristics and applications
| Vegetation Indices | Characteristics and applications | |
NDVI |
Normalized Difference Vegetation Index | Index describing the normalised difference between the near infrared and visible red bands of vegetation cover. It can be used to estimate the vegetative vigour of plants, which will monitor their health status |
| BNDVI | Blue Normalized Difference Vegetation Index | Band index in red using visible blue, for areas sensitive to chlorophyll content |
| GNDVI | Green Normalized Difference Vegetation Index | Non-banded red index using visible green, to measure photosynthetics and monitor plant stress. |
| NDRE | Normalized Difference Red Boundary | Index sensitive to chlorophyll content in leaves. It is suitable for the study of plants in advanced phenological stages |
| LCI | Leaf Chlorophyll Index | Index allows assessment of chlorophyll content in situations of complete leaf coverage |
| TGI | Triangular Greenness Index | RGB index sensitive to chlorophyll content in situations of high leaf coverage. Can be useful to detect nitrogen needs of plants |
| VARI | Visible Atmospheric Resistant Index | RGB index sensitive to weather insensitive sail cover |
| MCARI | Modified Chlorophyll Absorption in Reflective Index | Index measuring chlorophyll concentrations, is sensitive to variations in leaf area index (LAI) |
ENTERPRISE SOLUTIONS
COMBO MAVIC 3 MULTISPECTRAL
1x DJI Mavic 3 Multispectral
1x Battery kit
1x D-RTK
1x Trípode
Software Pix4D Fields
