Remote sensing concepts and

application in Agriculture

Dr. Rajesh Kumar

Asstant Professor
 Remote Sensing
Remote
(RS)
sensing can be defined as the acquisition and
recording of information about an object without being in
direct contact with that object.
Principle:
Different objects return different amount and kind of energy
in different bands of the em spectrum incident upon it. This
property of the objects depends on the structural, physical and
chemical composition, surface roughness, intensity and
wavelength of radiant energy, hence we can identify various
objects by collecting and analyzing returned energy.
The term "remote sensing," first used in the United
States in the 1950s by Ms. Evelyn Pruitt of the U.S.
Office of Naval Research

SCALE IN REMOTE SENSING

1. Small scale : 1cm=5km or more

2. Inter mediate scale : 1cm=0.5 to 5km
3. Large scale : 1cm=0.5km or less
 Collection of data
1.GROUND OBSERVATION PLATFORMS
Eg. Tripod stand , man
2. AIR BORNE OBSERVATIONS
Eg: Ballons , Aircrafts , Drones
3. SPACE BORNE OBSERVATIONS
Eg: Satellite
 Satellite Based platform

The path followed by a satellite is

referred to as its orbit.
As a satellite revolves around the
Earth, the sensor "sees“ certain
portion of the Earth's surface.
The area imaged on the surface, is
referred to as the swath.
 Elements of remote sensing:-

1. Energy Source or Illumination (A)

2. Radiation and the Atmosphere (B)

3. Interaction with the Object (C)

4.Recording of Energy by the Sensor (D)

5.Transmission, Reception and Processing (E)

6. Interpretation and Analysis (F)

7. Application (G)

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Two basic process involved in the remote sensing of the
earth are data acquisition and data analysis.
Elements of data acquisition are
(1) Energy source
(2) Propagation of energy through atmosphere
(3) Energy interaction with earth surface features
(4) Retransmission of energy through the atmosphere,
airborne and/or space borne sensors, resulting in the
generation of sensor data in pictorial and/or digital
form
Characteristics of Real Remote Sensing System

1. Energy source: All the remote sensing system rely on

energy that is reflected are/or emitted from the earth
surface features. Solar energy levels vary with location
and time, and different materials reflect energy to
varying degree of efficiency.
2. Atmosphere: To some extent, the atmosphere always
modifies the strength and spectral distribution of
energy received by a sensor. Its effect vary with
wavelength, time and place. The significance of these
effects is a function of the wavelength involved, the
sensor used, and sensing application.
3. Energy/matter interaction at earth’s surface- Although
spectral response patterns play a key role in the remote sensing
to earth, surface materials, radically different materials can have
great spectral similarity, making differentiation difficult.
4. Sensors. An ideal super sensors does not exist. No single
sensor is sensitive to all wavelength. All real sensors have fixed
limits of spectral sensitivity.
5. Data handling system. The capability of the current remote
sensors to generate data is very high and far exceeds the
current capacity to handle data, even with a computer.
6. Multiple data users. The data generated become
information only if the user know-how to interpret and use the
data efficiently.
 Type of Remote Sensing
A) Passive remote sensing – Energy source sun

B) Active remote sensing- own energy source

 Types of Remote Sensing

Passive remote sensing is a system which measures
energy that is naturally available.
For example : Sun
This can only take place during
the time when the sun is illuminating
the Earth.

provide their own energy source
Active remote sensing
for illumination.
The sensor emits radiation which is directed
toward the target to be investigated.
The radiation reflected from that target is
detected and measured by the sensor.
Remote sensing technology can be used to provide
advice to farmers on the ground to help them make
informed decisions.
Radiation – Target Interaction
There are three (3) forms of interaction
that can take place when
strikes, or energy is uponincident
the
surface. (I)

1) Absorption (A)
2) Transmission (T)
3) Reflection (R)

 Specular reflection
 Diffuse reflection
 Types of Reflection

1) Specular reflection 2) Diffused reflection

When a surface is smooth we get Diffuse reflection occurs when the
specular or mirror-like reflection where surface is rough and the energy is
all of the energy is directed away from reflected almost uniformly in all
the surface in a single direction. directions. Most earth surface features
lie somewhere between perfectly diffuse
reflectors.
Spectral signature for vegetation
A signature is that which gives an information about an object to its identity.
Identity is whatever makes an entity recognizable.
 Spectral signature for vegetation
1) Chlorophyll
A general characteristic of vegetation is its green colour caused by the pigment chlorophyll.
Chlorophyll reflects green energy more than red and blue energy, which gives plants green colour.
2) Leaf Thickness
The major difference in leaf reflectance between species, are dependent upon leaf thickness.

Thick leaf Thin leaf

 Spectral signature for vegetation
3) Leaf Shape
Needle-leaf trees canopies reflect significantly less near infrared radiation compared to
broad-leaf vegetation.

4) Crop Growth Stage

Immature leaves contain less chlorophyll than older leaves, they reflect more visible light and
less infrared radiation.
Spectral signature for vegetation
5) Leaf Maturity Reflectance percentage vary with respect to leaf maturity.
Spectral signature for vegetation
6) Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI)
“It is the ratio of the difference of the near-infrared and red reflectance, over the
sum of both.”.

NDVI = (NIR - Red) / (NIR + Red)

Where,
NDVI = Normalized Difference Vegetation Index NIR = Near Infrared
Radiations
Red = Red Radiations
Example:
For healthy plant
NDVI = (0.50-0.08) = 0.72
(0.50+0.08)

For unhealthy plant (0.40-0.30)

NDVI = (0.40+0.08) = 0.14
 Applications of Remote sensing in Agriculture

Crop identification

Crop acreage estimation

Crop condition assessment and stress detection

Identification of planting and harvesting dates

Crop yield modelling and estimation

Identification of pest and disease infestation

Soil moisture estimation

 Cont.

Irrigation monitoring and management

Soil mapping
Monitoring of drought
Land cover and land degradation mapping
Identification of problematic soils
1) Monitoring of Crop Status

Identifying stressed plants

1) Monitoring of Crop Status

Identifying stressed plants

1) Monitoring of Crop Status

Identifying stressed plants

1) Monitoring of Crop Status

Estimating water content from remote sensing

Source: Wikimedia Commons and US Agricultural Research Service

1) Monitoring of Crop Status
Combating disease and pests

Source: Environmental Health Perspectives, Volume 108 (3), March 2000

 1) Monitoring of Crop Status

Combating disease and pests

A moth larvae eating a leaf. The damage can be detected with remote sensing data, by estimating
the loss of leaf area.

Source: Mel Evans, Associated Press

2) Crop Yield Estimation
3) Crop Identification
 Scope of remote sensing
 foresters and agriculturists
Civil engineers
Geographers
Millitery operations
Soil scientist
Environmentalists
Hydrologists
Geologists
Oceanographers
Wild life managers
 Advantages of Remote sensing
Extent of coverage
Permanent and reliable record
Speed and consistency of interpretation of data
Reliable information
The data are available to multidisciplinary use
The process of data acquisition and analysis is faster.
 Disadvantages of remote sending
 Satellite data are too expensive
Remotely sensed data are to complicated to use
Remotely sensed data are not readily available
Satellite based remote sensing does not have sufficient
resolution.
Problems of remote sensing in
indian

conditions
Small size of plots.
Diversity of crops grown in particular area.
Variability of sowing and harvesting dates in different
fields.
Intercropping and mixed cropping practices.
Extensive cloud cover during rainy season.
 Conclusions
Remote sensing is a valuable tool in mapping and
monitoring of biodiversity and provide valuable information.
It is useful for suggesting actions plans and management
strategies for agriculture sustainability of any region.
Remotely sensed images can be used to identify nutrient
deficiencies, disease, water scarcity, weed infestations,
insects damages etc.
To assess various abiotic and biotic stresses in different
crop.
These technologies plays an important role in detecting
and management of various crop issues even at small land
holding with high resolution.
Change detection is possible by these technologies in less
time with better accuracy.
Thank you