Assessment of RapidEye vegetation indices for estimation of leaf area index and biomass in corn and soybean crops

Leaf area index (LAI) and biomass are important indicators of crop development and the availability of this information during the growing season can support farmer decision making processes. This study demonstrates the applicability of RapidEye multi-spectral data for estimation of LAI and biomass of two crop types (corn and soybean) with different canopy structure, leaf structure and photosynthetic pathways. The advantages of Rapid Eye in terms of increased temporal resolution (∼daily), high spatial resolution (∼5 m) and enhanced spectral information (includes red-edge band) are explored as an individual sensor and as part of a multi-sensor constellation. Seven vegetation indices based on combinations of reflectance in green, red, red-edge and near infrared bands were derived from RapidEye imagery between 2011 and 2013. LAI and biomass data were collected during the same period for calibration and validation of the relationships between vegetation indices and LAI and dry above-ground biomass. Most indices showed sensitivity to LAI from emergence to 8 m²/m². The normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), the red-edge NDVI and the green NDVI were insensitive to crop type and had coefficients of variations (CV) ranging between 19 and 27%; and coefficients of determination ranging between 86 and 88%. The NDVI performed best for the estimation of dry leaf biomass (CV = 27% and r² = 090) and was also insensitive to crop type. The red-edge indices did not show any significant improvement in LAI and biomass estimation over traditional multispectral indices. Cumulative vegetation indices showed strong performance for estimation of total dry above-ground biomass, especially for corn (CV ≤ 20%). This study demonstrated that continuous crop LAI monitoring over time and space at the field level can be achieved using a combination of RapidEye, Landsat and SPOT data and sensor-dependant best-fit functions. This approach eliminates/reduces the need for reflectance resampling, VIs inter-calibration and spatial resampling.     

叶面积指数遥感尺度效应与尺度纠正

由于地表空间异质性的普遍存在,遥感反演模型的非线性必然会导致不同分辨率观测的遥感结果不一致,从而产生遥感产品尺度效应。本文研究了遥感产品尺度效应概念、模拟方法和定量计算模型,并利用锡林浩特草原研究区的实测数据,对尺度效应模型和方法进行了定量计算与验证分析。首先,基于不同升尺度方法与多尺度遥感成像机理之间的机理联系,通过“先反演再平均”与“先平均再反演”之间的差异,可计算“高”分辨率与“低”分辨率之间的遥感产品尺度差异。其次,分别以红光、近红外两波段反射率和归一化植被指数(NDVI)为自变量,对叶面积指数(LAI)非线性遥感模型进行泰勒展开,研究了模型非线性、遥感数据空间异质性对LAI遥感产品尺度差异的影响,发现高阶项可忽略,利用二阶导数项和遥感数据方差项可定量计算遥感产品尺度差异,经过二阶导数项纠正后的尺度差异相对偏差从5.6%分别降低到0.78%和1.45%。最后,分析了LAI遥感产品尺度效应的特征规律,得出以下结论:随着植被覆盖的增大,同等遥感空间异质性的LAI遥感产品尺度差异越大,且红光波段比近红外波段的尺度差异敏感性高近2个数量级;对于绝大部分陆地植被区域,存在“低分辨率低估”尺度效应,且遥感产品尺度差异的主导要素为LAI模型非线性,NDVI变量自身非线性对尺度效应贡献占23.5%;对于湿地类植被与水体混合情形,NDVI变量非线性的贡献为主导贡献,出现“低分辨率高估”尺度效应,必须利用红光、近红外两波段的二阶导数项非线性尺度差异,才能解释这一类型的LAI遥感产品尺度效应。本文建立了具有一定普适意义的遥感产品尺度效应定量模拟与尺度纠正方法,对推动定量遥感的尺度问题研究有一定参考价值。     

Directional effects on NDVI and LAI retrievals from MODIS: A case study in Brazil with soybean

The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) is largely used to estimate Leaf Area Index (LAI) using radiative transfer modeling (the “main” algorithm). When this algorithm fails for a pixel, which frequently occurs over Brazilian soybean areas, an empirical model (the “backup” algorithm) based on the relationship between the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and LAI is utilized. The objective of this study is to evaluate directional effects on NDVI and subsequent LAI estimates using global (biome 3) and local empirical models, as a function of the soybean development in two growing seasons (2004–2005 and 2005–2006). The local model was derived from the pixels that had LAI values retrieved from the main algorithm. In order to keep the reproductive stage for a given cultivar as a constant factor while varying the viewing geometry, pairs of MODIS images acquired in close dates from opposite directions (backscattering and forward scattering) were selected. Linear regression relationships between the NDVI values calculated from these two directions were evaluated for different view angles (0–25°; 25–45°; 45–60°) and development stages (<45; 45–90; >90 days after planting). Impacts on LAI retrievals were analyzed. Results showed higher reflectance values in backscattering direction due to the predominance of sunlit soybean canopy components towards the sensor and higher NDVI values in forward scattering direction due to stronger shadow effects in the red waveband. NDVI differences between the two directions were statistically significant for view angles larger than 25°. The main algorithm for LAI estimation failed in the two growing seasons with gradual crop development. As a result, up to 94% of the pixels had LAI values calculated from the backup algorithm at the peak of canopy closure. Most of the pixels selected to compose the 8-day MODIS LAI product came from the forward scattering view because it displayed larger LAI values than the backscattering. Directional effects on the subsequent LAI retrievals were stronger at the peak of the soybean development (NDVI values between 0.70 and 0.85). When the global empirical model was used, LAI differences up to 3.2 for consecutive days and opposite viewing directions were observed. Such differences were reduced to values up to 1.5 with the local model. Because of the predominance of LAI retrievals from the MODIS backup algorithm during the Brazilian soybean development, care is necessary if one considers using these data in agronomic growing/yield models.     

Leaf Area Index Estimation Using Time-Series MODIS Data in Different Types of Vegetation

The aim of this study is to estimate leaf area index (LAI) in different type of plants using vegetation indices (VIs) and neural network algorithms retrieved from MODIS data. Four VI were calculated, and neural networks were built up based on MODIS surface reflectance products. Among the tested VIs, normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and chlorophyll index (CI) appeared to be the best candidate indices in estimating LAI across sites with different vegetation types. The models having the highest accuracy were CI for grassland and deciduous broad leaf forest with determination coefficients (R-square above 0.70, and NDVI for crop R-square?=?0.78). Neural network showed better results than VI methods except in grassland sites. The added VI information showed no significant improvement of model accuracy for the neural networks in most sites.     

区域作物生长过程的遥感提取方法

提出利用时序NDVI数据提取作物生长过程方法。遥感数据在采集过程中受云、大气因子的影响 ,以及混合像元问题 ,造成时序植被指数值变得没有规律 ,对比性不强。采用基于最小二次方拟合的谐函数分析方法 ,依据作物轮作规律和生长周期性特征 ,用主要频率的正弦、余弦谐函数重建时序图像 ,去除了影像中云污染的影响。以中国的旱地为例 ,考虑到像元内旱地对NDVI值的贡献率 ,计算区域内旱地像元加权平均值来反映其作物生长过程。同时与区域所有像元的平均值、旱地平均值等统计方法的结果进行对比分析 ,表明区域内旱地的加权平均值能够削弱旱地比例和地域间的差异 ,突出耕地上作物的生长过程特征。通过与地面实测数据分析 ,平滑前后的作物生长过程与叶面积指数相关性增加 5 %— 11% ,采用区域加权平均的方法得到的作物生长过程 ,比旱地平均和NDVI平均的结果与叶面积指数的相关性增加 14 %— 17%。     

冬小麦叶面积指数的高光谱估算模型研究

本文以山东禹城为研究区,利用地面实测光谱数据,探讨不同植被指数和红边参数建立高光谱模型反演冬小麦叶面积指数的精度。通过逐波段分析计算了4种植被指数(NDVI、RVI、SAVI、EVI),结合同步观测LAI数据,确定反演叶面积指数的最优波段;计算了5种常用的高光谱植被指数MCARI、MCARI2、OSAVI、MTVI2、MSAVI2,同时利用4种常用方法计算红边位置和红谷,与实测LAI进行回归分析,比较植被指数和红边参数模型对冬小麦LAI的估测精度。结果表明各因子与LAI均具有较高的相关性,整个研究区归一化植被指数具有最高的反演精度,确定了估算冬小麦LAI的最优模型,并使用独立的LAI观测数据对模型进行了验证。     

Assessment of Potato Phenological Characteristics Using MODIS-Derived NDVI and LAI Information

Remote sensing techniques are capable of identifying a particular crop as well as monitoring its growing stages, crop vigor, and biomass. Due to the increasing demand for food staples, potato cultivation in Bangladesh has increased substantially over the last decade. A study was carried out in the Munshiganj area, the main potato-producing district in Bangladesh, to assess the growth of potatoes by modeling its important life metrics. Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Leaf Area Index (LAI) products were extracted from MODIS Surface Reflectance Eight-Day L3 Global 500 m data from November 25, 2005 to March 6, 2006. NDVI and LAI were extracted for 50 selected fields in the study area and used to construct potato phenological curves. Twenty-two life metrics were derived for potato from the phenological curves. The first 12 metrics are the basic life metrics of potato and the others are supplementary. Results showed a significant amplitude and distinct response period of these vegetation indices. Based on the phenological curves, the spatial distribution of potato growth was estimated for the study area for both NDVI and LAI. The effect of temperature on crop phenology was examined during the potato growing season. It was found that significant growth occurred when the temperature was relatively low. This study demonstrates that remote sensing data can be effectively used to study potato growth in Bangladesh.     

不同传感器的模拟植被指数对水稻叶面积指数的估测精度和敏感性分析

本研究利用水稻冠层高光谱数据,模拟NOAA-AVHRR,Terra-MODIS和Landsat-TM的可见光波段反射率数据,计算各传感器的多种植被指数(NDVI,RVI,EVI,GNDVI,GRVI和Red-edge RVI),比较植被指数模型对水稻LAI的估测精度,分析不同植被指数对LAI变化的敏感性.相对于红波段植被指数,红边比值植被指数(Red-edge RVI)和绿波段指数GRVI与LAI有更好的线性相关关系,而GNDVI和LAI呈现更好的对数相关关系.MODIS的Red-edge RVI指数不仅模型拟合的精度最高,还有独立数据验证的估测精度也最高,而且它的验证精度较拟合精度下降幅度最小;其次是绿波段构建的GNDVI和GRVI植被指数的估测精度,再次是NDVI和EVI的估测精度,而RVI的估测精度最差.敏感性分析发现,13个植被指数对水稻LAI的估测能力都随着LAI的增加而下降,但归一化类植被指数和比值类植被指数对LAI变化反应的差异明显,归一化类植被指数在LAI较低时(LAI<1.5)对LAI变化的反应开始非常敏感,但迅速下降,而比值类植被指数在LAI较低时,明显小于归一化类植被指数,之后随着LAI的增大(LAI>1.5)比值类植被指数对LAI的变化敏感性,则明显高于归一化类植被指数.Red-edge RVI和绿波段指数GRVI和LAI不仅表现了很好的线性相关关系,而且在LAI大于2.9左右保持较高的敏感性.     

植被结构及太阳／观测角度对NDVI的影响

在文献［１］中作者建立了计算多组分植被方向反射系数（ＢＲＦ）的综合解析模型。本文采用该模型研究植被空间结构对常用的归一化植被指数（ＮＤＶＩ）的影响，文中讨论了ＮＤＶＩ与叶（或植被其它组分）角分布（ＬＡＤ）、植被组分（如叶片）的特征尺度和它们在空间的散布方式，以及非叶器官面积在总面积中所占比例间的依赖关系，同时给出了ＮＤＶＩ随太阳／观测角度的变化情况。结果表明即使在叶面积指数（ＬＡＩ）固定不变时，冠层结构及植被组分光学性质的空间非均匀性对ＮＤＶＩ的大小及角分布也有十分显著的影响。通常ＮＤＷ随角度的变化是很大的，如果植被不同组分的光学性质差异很大，且事先不知道它们的空间散布方式时，那么利用ＤＮＶＩ就无法准确地估算出ＬＡＩ。但是对于组分随机分布的植被，利用远离“热点”区域的光谱资料可以使冠层其它结构参数的影响减至最小。     

Spectral anisotropy of subtropical deciduous forest using MISR and MODIS data acquired under large seasonal variation in solar zenith angle

Recent studies in Amazonian tropical evergreen forests using the Multi-angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer (MISR) and the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) have highlighted the importance of considering the view-illumination geometry in satellite data analysis. However, contrary to the observed for evergreen forests, bidirectional effects have not been evaluated in Brazilian subtropical deciduous forests. In this study, we used MISR data to characterize the reflectance and vegetation index anisotropies in subtropical deciduous forest from south Brazil under large seasonal solar zenith angle (SZA) variation and decreasing leaf area index (LAI) from the summer to winter. MODIS data were used to observe seasonal changes in the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and enhanced vegetation index (EVI). Topographic effects on their determination were inspected by dividing data from the summer to winter and projecting results over a digital elevation model (DEM). By using the PROSAIL, we investigated the relative contribution of LAI and SZA to vegetation indices (VI) of deciduous forest. We also simulated and compared the MISR NDVI and EVI response of subtropical deciduous and tropical evergreen forests as a function of the large seasonal SZA amplitude of 33°. Results showed that the MODIS-MISR NDVI and EVI presented higher values in the summer and lower ones in the winter with decreasing LAI and increasing SZA or greater amounts of canopy shadows viewed by the sensors. In the winter, NDVI reduced local topographic effects due to the red-near infrared (NIR) band normalization. However, the contrary was observed for the three-band EVI that enhanced local variations in shaded and sunlit surfaces due to its strong dependence on the NIR band response. The reflectance anisotropy of the MISR bands increased from the summer to winter and was stronger in the backscattering direction at large view zenith angles (VZA). EVI was much more anisotropic than NDVI and the anisotropy increased from the summer to winter. It also increased from the forward scatter to the backscattering direction with the predominance of sunlit canopy components viewed by MISR, especially at large VZA. Modeling PROSAIL results confirmed the stronger anisotropy of EVI than NDVI for the subtropical deciduous and tropical evergreen forests. PROSAIL showed that LAI and SZA are coupled factors to decrease seasonally the VIs of deciduous forest with the first one having greater importance than the latter. However, PROSAIL seasonal variations in VIs were much smaller than those observed with MODIS data probably because the effects of shadows in heterogeneous canopy structures or/and cast by emergent trees and from local topography were not modeled.     

Generation of high spatial and temporal resolution NDVI and its application in crop biomass estimation

Abstract

While data like HJ-1 CCD images have advantageous spatial characteristics for describing crop properties, the temporal resolution of the data is rather low, which can be easily made worse by cloud contamination. In contrast, although Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) can only achieve a spatial resolution of 250 m in its normalised difference vegetation index (NDVI) product, it has a high temporal resolution, covering the Earth up to multiple times per day. To combine the high spatial resolution and high temporal resolution of different data sources, a new method (Spatial and Temporal Adaptive Vegetation index Fusion Model [STAVFM]) for blending NDVI of different spatial and temporal resolutions to produce high spatial–temporal resolution NDVI datasets was developed based on Spatial and Temporal Adaptive Reflectance Fusion Model (STARFM). STAVFM defines a time window according to the temporal variation of crops, takes crop phenophase into consideration and improves the temporal weighting algorithm. The result showed that the new method can combine the temporal information of MODIS NDVI and spatial difference information of HJ-1 CCD NDVI to generate an NDVI dataset with both high spatial and high temporal resolution. An application of the generated NDVI dataset in crop biomass estimation was provided. An average absolute error of 17.2% was achieved. The estimated winter wheat biomass correlated well with observed biomass (R ² of 0.876). We conclude that the new dataset will improve the application of crop biomass estimation by describing the crop biomass accumulation in detail. There is potential to apply the approach in many other studies, including crop production estimation, crop growth monitoring and agricultural ecosystem carbon cycle research, which will contribute to the implementation of Digital Earth by describing land surface processes in detail.     

A Method to Upscale the Leaf Area Index (LAI) Using GF-1 Data with the Assistance of MODIS Products in the Poyang Lake Watershed

A leaf area index is a key parameter reflecting the growth changes of vegetation and one of the most important canopy structural parameters for performing quantitative analyses of many ecological and climate models. Although using high-resolution satellite data and the radiative transfer model (RTM) can be used to generate high resolution LAI products, the RTM method has some problems because its temporal resolution is low, the input parameters are more appropriate for a physics model, and some parameters are difficult to obtain. Problems that urgently need to be solved include improving the temporal-spatial resolution for LAI products and localizing LAI products. To explore an applicable method for the high-resolution LAI products in a small basin and to improve the inversion accuracy, we propose an approach for GF-1 WFV LAI retrieval using MOD15A2 data and the measured LAI of the Poyang Lake watershed. Empirical models were used to retrieve high resolution LAI values, and the results show that these models are well designed for analyzing time-series satellite data. Good correlations were obtained between the NDVI of the GF-1 WFV data, the retrieved LAI values and the MODIS LAI data from samples acquired in both summer and winter. The exponential NDVI model obtained the best LAI value estimation results from the GF-1 WFV data (R2 = 0.697, RMSE = 1.100); the best synthetic validation of the RMSE is 0.883, close to the optimum model. Therefore, the retrieval results more fully reflect the growth process of the different features. This study proposed an upscale method for developing a high spatial resolution GF-1 satellite standard LAI products retrieval model using MODIS data. The proposed method will be helpful for efficiently improving the temporal-spatial resolution of LAI products to benefit the extraction of vegetation parameter information and dynamic land use monitoring.     

生物量估测模型中遥感信息与植被光合参数的关系研究

本文通过对建立估测植被生物量遥感模型中所涉及的遥感信息参数与植被光合参数的关系分析,从理论和实验中阐明了反映植物长势的量发化植被指数和反映植物光合面积的叶面积指数,光合有效辐射及吸收光合有效辐射的相互关系,对在实际中建立更为机理的生物量遥感模型提供可供进一步参考的依据。     

基于SPOT5遥感影像的城市森林叶面积指数反演

本文以上海城市森林为研究对象,采用地面实验与遥感技术相结合方法,开展SPOT5遥感影像在估测城市森林LAI中的应用研究。结果表明,地面实测LAI与三种植被指数均具有很好的线性回归关系,相关系数(r)均大于0.6,其中MSAVI的相关系数最高(r=0.66),其次为MCARI(r=0.64)和NDVI(r=0.62)。说明ND-VI仍受到背景等因素不同程度的影响,而植被指数MSAVI和MCARI,由于能进一步消除土壤背景和叶绿素的影响,对叶面积指数比较敏感,能更好地与叶面积指数建立关系,能更好地用于城市森林叶面积指数的遥感反演。本研究可为快速定量评估城市森林的结构和功能提供依据。     

MODIS植被指数的美国玉米单产遥感估测

针对中国开展的国外农作物产量遥感估测大多依靠中低分辨率耕地信息、省级(州级)或国家级作物产量统计数据的现状,本文以美国玉米为例,探讨利用多年中高分辨率作物分布信息、时序遥感植被指数和县级作物产量统计数据开展国外重点地区作物单产遥感估测技术研究,以期进一步提高中国对国外农作物产量监测精度和精细化水平。首先,利用美国农业部国家农业统计局(NASS/USDA)生产的作物分布数据(CDL)获得多个年份玉米空间分布图,并对相应年份250 m分辨率16天合成的MODIS-NDVI时序数据进行掩膜处理,统计获得每年各县域内玉米主要生育期NDVI均值;其次,以各州为估产区,以多年县级玉米统计单产和县域内玉米主要生育期NDVI均值为基础,建立各州玉米主要生育期NDVI与玉米单产间关系模型;然后,通过主要生育期玉米单产和玉米植被指数间拟合程度,筛选确定各州玉米最佳估产期和最佳估产模型。最终,利用最佳估产模型实现美国各州玉米单产估测和全国玉米单产推算。其中,建模数据覆盖时间为2007年—2010年,验证数据为2011年。结果表明,应用最佳估产模型的2011年美国各州玉米单产估测相对误差在-4.16%—4.92%,均方根误差在148.75—820.93 kg/ha,各州估测结果计算获得全国玉米单产的相对误差仅为2.12%,均方根误差为285.57 kg/ha。可见,本研究的作物单产遥感估测技术方法具有一定可行性,可准确估测全球重点地区作物单产信息。     

黑河流域叶面积指数的遥感估算

研究利用Landsat7ETM⁺遥感数据获取黑河流域植被叶面积指数(LAI)空间分布的可行性。该研究是基于黑河流域分布式水文模型的一个重要输入项———LAI空间分布数据的需要而产生的。文章在详尽的野外观测数据基础上,分别探究实测LAI与同时相ETM⁺3、4、5、7波段反射率及相关植被指数(SR、NDVI、ARVI、RSR、SAV I、PVI、GESAVI)的相关关系,率定最佳的LAI遥感反演及其空间分布方案。研究发现,针对特定的自然条件,将研究区分为植被覆盖度小的稀疏立地和覆盖度大的密集立地,分别采用土壤调节植被指数(SAVI)和大气阻抗植被指数(ARVI)进行2种林地的LAI估算最为可靠,在此基础上,提出黑河地区LAI估算及其空间分布的遥感制图方案。     

Estimation and comparison of leaf area index of agricultural crops using irs liss-III and EO-1 hyperion images

Motivated by the increasingly availability and importance of hyperspectral remote sensing data, this study aims to determine whether current generation narrowband hyperspectral remote sensing data could be used to estimate vegetation Leaf Area Index (LAI) accurately than the traditional broadband multispectral data. A comparative study has been carried out to evaluate the performance of the narrowband Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDV1) derived from Hyperion hyperspectral sensor with that of derived from IRS LISS-III for the estimation of LAI of some major agricultural crops (e.g. cotton, sugarcane and rice) in part of Guntur district, India. It has been found that the narrowband NDVI derived from Hyperion has shown better results over its counterpart derived from broadband LISS-III. Linear regression models have been used which with selected subsets of individual Hyperion bands performed better to predict LAI than those based on the broadband datasets, although the potential to overfit models using the large number of available Hyperion bands is a concern for further research.     

中国农情遥感速报系统

介绍了中国农情遥感速报系统的建设情况 ,系统内容包括农作物长势监测、农作物种植面积监测、农作物单产预测与粮食产量估算、作物时空结构监测和粮食供需平衡预警等。简要介绍了 1998年以来中国农情遥感速报系统在监测内容与监测范围、监测频率、技术发展以及质量控制与过程检验体系建立等方面的进展 ,并就中国农情遥感速报系统的发展方向提出了展望。     

Predicting agricultural drought in eastern Rajasthan of India using NDVI and standardized precipitation index

In the present study, prediction of agricultural drought has been addressed through prediction of agricultural yield using a model based on NDVI-SPI. It has been observed that the meteorological drought index SPI with different timescale is correlated with NDVI at different lag. Also NDVI of current fortnight is correlated with NDVI of previous lags. Based on the correlation coefficients, the Multiple Regression Model was developed to predict NDVI. The NDVI of current fortnight was found highly correlated with SPI of previous fortnight in semi-arid and transitional zones. The correlation between NDVI and crop yield was observed highest in first fortnight of August. The RMSE of predicted yield in drought year was found to be about 17.07 kg/ha which was about 6.02 per cent of average yield. In normal year, it was 24 kg/Ha denoting about 2.1 per cent of average yield.     

On spectral indices as a function of soil variability in safflower crop

Spectral indices as an indicator of physiological traits affecting safflower yield in relation to soil variability were evaluated in a two year experiment (1997–1999). Reflectance, biometric and phonological data were collected. Two indices namely normalized differential vegetation index (NDVI) and ratio of spectral reflectance in infrared region to red region (1R/R) were derived from radiometric observation. Yield data indicated significant difference in different soils. Temporal NDVI behaviour as a function of soil type was not prominent especially in early stages of crop growth. However NDVI at 75 days after sowing (DAS) was found to be relatively better indicator of plant status and yield. IR/R was relatively less effective in indicating the differential response of crop to soil types. Effect of soil and crop interaction on spectral indices was significant at 75 and 90 DAS, which was attributed to attainment of maximum leaf area and leaf area at these stages of growth. Regression analysis showed strong positive relationship between NDVI and leaf area, dry matter and yield. IR/R and leaf area had the strongest and consistent relationship (r = 0.96). A single regression equation accounted for yield variability in the dataset. Thus possible transformation of NDVI maps (satellite data) to LAI units and consequently applications like yield forecasting was indicated. Utility of spectra-temporal data as a pointer of plant development status and yield was also demonstrated.