Remote estimation of leaf area index and green leaf biomass in maize canopies

Leaf area index (LAI) is an important variable for climate modeling, estimates of primary production, agricultural yield forecasting, and many other diverse studies. Remote sensing provides a considerable potential for estimating LAI at local to regional and global scales. Several spectral vegetation indices have been proposed, but their capacity to estimate LAI is highly reduced at moderate‐to‐high LAI. In this paper, we propose a technique to estimate LAI and green leaf biomass remotely using reflectances in two spectral channels either in the green around 550 nm, or at the red edge near 700 nm, and in the NIR (beyond 750 nm). The technique was tested in agricultural fields under a maize canopy, and proved…

• UD
  U.S. Department of Energy

  Awards: DE-FG03-00ER62996, DE-FG-02-00ER45827, FG03-00ER62996
• UO
  University of Nebraska-Lincoln
• OO
  Office of Science

  Award: DE-FG03-00ER62996
• OO
  Office of Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research

  Award: DE-FG-02-00ER45827