Evaluating PlanetScope and UAV Multispectral Data for Monitoring Winter Wheat and Sustainable Fertilization Practices in Mediterranean Agroecosystems
Cereal crops play a critical role in global food security, but their productivity is increasingly threatened by climate change. This study evaluates the feasibility of using PlanetScope satellite imagery and a UAV equipped with the MicaSense RedEdge multispectral imaging sensor in monitoring winter...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2024-11-01
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| Series: | Remote Sensing |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/16/23/4474 |
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| Summary: | Cereal crops play a critical role in global food security, but their productivity is increasingly threatened by climate change. This study evaluates the feasibility of using PlanetScope satellite imagery and a UAV equipped with the MicaSense RedEdge multispectral imaging sensor in monitoring winter wheat under various fertilizer treatments in a Mediterranean climate. Eleven fertilizer treatments, including organic-mineral fertilizer (OMF) pellets, were tested. The results show that conventional inorganic fertilization provided the highest yield (8618 kg ha⁻<sup>1</sup>), while yields from OMF showed a comparable performance to traditional fertilizers, indicating their potential for sustainable agriculture. PlanetScope data demonstrated moderate accuracy in predicting canopy cover (R<sup>2</sup> = 0.68), crop yield (R<sup>2</sup> = 0.54), and grain quality parameters such as protein content (R<sup>2</sup> = 0.49), starch (R<sup>2</sup> = 0.56), and hectoliter weight (R<sup>2</sup> = 0.51). However, its coarser resolution limited its ability to capture finer treatment-induced variability. MicaSense, despite its higher spatial resolution, performed poorly in predicting crop components, with R<sup>2</sup> values below 0.35 for yield and protein content. This study highlights the complementary use of remote sensing technologies to optimize wheat management and support climate-resilient agriculture through the integration of sustainable fertilization strategies. |
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| ISSN: | 2072-4292 |