Chapter 7

Satellite Remote Sensing in Precision Agriculture

Satellite Remote Sensing Applications in Precision Agriculture

Satellite-based remote sensing is a valuable tool in precision agriculture, offering a bird's-eye view of farmland and enabling farmers to make informed decisions. This technology allows for the monitoring of crop health, soil conditions, and other key parameters, leading to improved resource management and increased yields. Combined with the appropriate data models, satellite imagery helps in the following:

Monitoring Crop Health. Satellites can capture images of fields, which can be used to monitor crop health over time. This information can help farmers identify potential issues early, such as nutrient deficiencies or crop diseases, and take corrective action.
Yield Forecasting. Satellite imagery has a significant impact on the estimation and forecasting of crop yield through its ability to measure a variety of crop parameters such as Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Leaf Area Index (LAI), and Land Surface Temperature (LST) index. Enabling farmers and those within the agricultural industry to make more informed decisions across their inputs, irrigation, and marketing efforts. Additionally, the use of satellite imagery as a tool to monitor yield forecasting is incredibly advantageous in comparison to traditional methods of yield forecasting.
Assessing Weather Patterns. Satellites can track weather patterns over large areas, providing valuable information to farmers about upcoming weather events. This can help farmers make better decisions about planting and harvesting and also help them prepare for weather-related risks, such as floods or droughts.
Pest Detection. Satellite imagery can mitigate and improve pest control for those within the agriculture industry by providing timely and comprehensive data on pest outbreaks and crop health. For example, farmers can use satellite images to identify areas of their fields where pest infestations are most severe.

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