The author has identified the following significant results. The biological leaf area index data show that there can be large variations in field vegetative condition from point to point. This is especially true in flood-irrigated fields, in which plant density (and development) varies drastically between rows that are in channels vs. those that are in raised areas. Considerable care must be used in interpreting the significance of isolated leaf area index measurements made from a single wheat row

Colwell, J.

Nalepka, R. F.

English

The author has identified the following significant results. The electro-optical leaf area meter was the most accurate of the approaches tested on harvested wheat samples, but it is very time consuming. It was decided to infer leaf area from dry weight biomass after establishing a relationship between dry weight biomass and area as measured by the leaf area meter. There is a good correlation between leaf area as measured by the meter and dry leaf biomass. There is a less consistent relationship between stem area and stem biomass

NASA Technical Reports Server

General Disclaimer 
One or more of the Following Statements may affect this Document 
 
 This document has been reproduced from the best copy furnished by the 
organizational source. It is being released in the interest of making available as 
much information as possible. 
 
 This document may contain data, which exceeds the sheet parameters. It was 
furnished in this condition by the organizational source and is the best copy 
available. 
 
 This document may contain tone-on-tone or color graphs, charts and/or pictures, 
which have been reproduced in black and white. 
 
 This document is paginated as submitted by the original source. 
 
 Portions of this document are not fully legible due to the historical nature of some 
of the material. However, it is the best reproduction available from the original 
submission. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Produced by the NASA Center for Aerospace Information (CASI) 
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19760003447 2020-03-22T19:42:13+00:00Z
1	 '
fc
P 0 L'C
C)l
I	 ^
I	 1
7^
	 X0.0.3
7 ..	 1. ft 1 A E
" 1 i 1: TIT
U
TE
1
r	 1l C111 All	 F<)1+M1 RI Y ^'JIL J.0W PW4 E AFIf117AT0tQll.S. T111 ONIVE R511Y c,F MICHIGAN
f	 M ANt q ANHQH • MICHR;AN • 41,10/ 	 PHONU (3131 4133 0;,00
?C4 r	 `
"Made a y.3110ble under NASA tponsmft
in ttt! int'llest of early and wide dis• 114500-4—L
setrc,nher 1975Seminatron of Ea44h Refeurces Survey
Program information and without hobiltlty
for arty Erse made thereat."
WILE'AT PRODUC71VIT rSTU—,ATES USING LANDSAT DATA
TYPE II PROCNESS PsLPORT
12 v.kY 197r1 - 1.5 AUGUST 1975.
(E76-10003)
	 WHEAT PRODUCTIVITY ESTIMATES
	 N76-10535
USING LANDSA`I DATA Progress Report, 12 May
- 15 Aug. 1975 (Envircnnental Research Inst.
of Michigan) 5 p HC 13.25 	 CSCL 02C	 Unclas
G3/43 00003
NASA Contvact I1AS5•-223£9
Prepnred by
RJ_cllard F, Nalepka - Pr.i.nci.pal lvivest:t_l;ator
Joiui C011.wc!]_1 - Co-Principal lnvct:Li,^at0V
NASA Tedmic,11 Of.f ICCr
,zo6aLIIL11r , C. K. S1-.m' 	 c /CU1e 902
NzljtConn 1 Aeronautics anti	 AdminisLrat-ion
Goddard 5p.,cc 1' t.<<;i1L Ccntnr.
Gi-eenbc1 i, Koaj
2 01 7', .,.
RECEIVED
ISEP1°i5v L J
SIS, 90..6
LERN
1(.1/M, N4\ Wll,(IW I. 111. 1 A 041 A 1(11. i 1 ti t.41 ( IN I l 11. • . I I I(r1 MIC „1(.AN
114800--4-L
Page 2
WHEAT PRODUCTIVITY ESTIMATES USING LANDSAT DATA
TYPE II PROGRESS REPORT
12 May 1975 - 15 August 1975
The following report serves as the first Type lI progress report for
LANDSAT follow-on Investigation #2062L which is entitled "Wheat Productivity
Estimates Using LANDSAT Data”.
This investigation has two primary objectives. These objectives are:
1. To develop techniques and procedures for estimating characteristics
of wheat canopies which are correlated with potential wheat brain
yield (e.I;., leaf area index [L.A.1.], percent vegetation cover, or
dry weight biownss) by use of LANDSAT data,
2. To demonstrate the usefulness of LANDSAT data for estimation of
w1wat yield on a LACI E (Large Area Crop Inventory Experbier.t)
intensive test sItc.
A. PROBLEMS
Outside of the fact that very little LANDSAT data will be available for
the prime test site in Pinney County, Kansas because of untimely cloud cover,
no special probl__ms exist which are impeding the progress of the investigation.
B. ACCOI(iPLIS)'_l•P.;tJTS
Efforts to date have involved field data collection, and a beginning of
field data caluction and analysis.
Six trips of approximately 5 days duration 'oach were made to the LACIE
intensive test site in Finney Cou"Ly, Kansas by a four-person ERIM team.
These trips bagan in late April (before heading) and terminaL2d with a trip
in mid-June, The trips were designed so that the field te__m could be on
location at: the Lime of the LANDSAT (I or 11) overpasses.
The first two trips were designInd primarily to test fieiJ data collection
techniques and to develop a working re.i.ationship with other perti.cipr nts (ASCS,
LE • •. 1111_	 A,, 1.11.1
114800-4-L
Page 3
Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station, Texas A&M). Specific fields for
study were chosen, and farmer's permission to use the fields was obtained,
by in-pert:on contact insofar as was possible.
A total of 13 fields % .:ere selected for collection of field data. These
fields included both irrigated (sprinvier and flood) and non-irrigated
•
	
	 (dryland) growing; methods, and 3 different wheat varieties (Scout, Eagle,
Satanta).
The techniques investigated for measuring; leaf area index of a harvested
sample included:
1. measuring; length and "average" width of components
2. photographing; %•.heat samples and measuring optical density of resulting;
transparencies and related to area
3. using; an elcctro-optical leaf area meter
4. using; the dr. • weight biomass to infer lenf area.
A "ron-dc:st ••active" technique for estimaLi.113, important vegetation canopy
parameters was	 q investigated. The techni q ue which was tried made use of
flash tclescc;,li.c photography and a large mirror to obtain vertical and 45° 1)1:cIL-os
of the canopies. The principal advantage of this techni(luc: is not considered
to be its "non-dc!tructivenc. ss". More damage is probably done walking into a
field than in actually hczrvestin,; vary small snmplc • s. One advantage of a
photo-raphic technique is that it produces a permanent record which may be
referred to at several puinLs in Lhe investi ootioo in order to reduce and
analyze the data in more than one way. Another advantage is that a few 35 mm
slides arc much easier to handle th,n the. 50-100 tillers of whea t_ typically
collected :in a sitwle sample.
As a result of the first trip to the: site and analysis of previous years
photography, we becarile convinced tbar. licterog;eneity in the vegetation condition
within certain fields would rake it iripossible to describe "average field
I	 '
/ 1.i1IM
ff....^^..^^	 /UIIMI NI r V. ^.1 ^^N 1111 i.1 n1'^^1^..1(rl.i'	 r11 UN^111 . 	1l•I M^<Il^:r^^ir
114800-4 -L
Page 4
condition" with a tractable number of random sample:,. As a result, we flew
over the site in a light aircraft and obtained aerial obliques of the fields
of interest in order to stratify heterogeneous fields into homogeneous areas
within which samples could be obtained.
•	 Samples of %, ,heat were collected (from 30 cm lengths of rows) from each
of 13 fields on four field trips from 5/21 to (/IS. The wheat samples and
pictures were broughL back to L121M for analysis. At LRIM, a limited number
of hen.Jspherical reflectance measurements were made on the various wheat
components (liv(, and dead leaves, .;talks and head:), and reflectance
measurements ui soil (wet and dry) were also wLrdc.
C. ful"SULT
Preliminary results in reducing tho field dat. suggest the followin&
points:
1, The elect:ro-optical. leaf area meter was the u:ost accurate of the.
pproaclic:, tested on harvested wiheat samples, but it is very time
consumi.nl;. Accordingly, it Was dcciIUd to infer leaf area from dry
weight biomass after establishing a relation-, hip bet%,7een dry weight
biomass and area as measured by tho leaf area miter.
2. Thera is a rather guod corr(lcition betweern leaf area as nice-sured
by the mcter and dry leaf biomass.
3. There is a less consistent rclati.onsh.i_p between :item araa and stem
biomass.
4. Proje , Lc d areas of the components of wheat canopies can be estiutz't.ed
f;-om the ground photograp:iy, but. tinge may be difficulty in ietolving
details in the lower part of the canopy (because it is dark), )nd
there m::y be d.^Jficulties in interc)rcLing, whet:hcr the vegetation is
live or :lead in Lhu top part of f.hc^ carjop !becaccse i.L tends to be
overexposed).
1). PUBLICATION'S
No publ.ic.aLions or abstracts of talks,  were released riv: i c:n the reporting
period .
^i
^ai L
llill.l. .^ ♦ V. 1, 111 V. 1•l1l.I •111 Il.a II . 1••1 •• 1111
	
1	 X11. x ,11. U/ M1t: 111 (.41i
114800-4-L
Page 5
E . I.ECOI•TIENDAT IONS
Because of the availability of only a small amount of LAND'SAT data over
the prime site it is recommended that 24-channel scanncr data gathered from
an aircraft platform at many times during; the growing season be provided to fill
the time slots when WHAT data was not available.
F. FUNDS EXPENDED
Total expenditures throunh August 15, 11 75 are $34,877.
G. DATA USE
VALUE OF
	
VALUE OF
	 VALUE 01'
DATA
	 DATA	 DATA
ALL( N11)	 01td)ERiED	 RECL 1 VED
Y12,000
$
	 1,4010) -----
f^c,'_i tc^Submitted by:
Richard F. Nalepie<e
Principal investigator
Approved by.
Joh D.	 F.ricksoll
Dead,	 Inforration Systems
and Analysis Department
Approved 1,y: C/
Richard R. Legaelt
Director,	 Infrared and
Optics Division
USD1 EROS
DATA CENTER
USDA/ASCS AERIAL
PH0TOGI'td'I1'Y FIELD
OFFICE
J	 ;s


Wheat productivity estimates using LANDSAT data

General Disclaimer 
One or more of the Following Statements may affect this Document 
 
 This document has been reproduced from the best copy furnished by the 
organizational source. It is being released in the interest of making available as 
much information as possible. 
 
 This document may contain data, which exceeds the sheet parameters. It was 
furnished in this condition by the organizational source and is the best copy 
available. 
 
 This document may contain tone-on-tone or color graphs, charts and/or pictures, 
which have been reproduced in black and white. 
 
 This document is paginated as submitted by the original source. 
 
 Portions of this document are not fully legible due to the historical nature of some 
of the material. However, it is the best reproduction available from the original 
submission. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Produced by the NASA Center for Aerospace Information (CASI) 
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19760009452 2020-03-22T18:11:18+00:00Z
1 NVIIt0NM1 NT AI.
RESEARCH INSTITUTE
OF MICHIGAN	 FORMERLY WILLOW RUN LABORATORIES. THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
P. 0 BOX 618 • ANN ARBOR • MICHIGAN • 48107	 PHONE (313) 994-1200
"" 
*110 bMe wider NASA sponsorship
	 18 December 1975in th' interest of early and wido, dis_
of ENO Resources survey
dram information and without liahility
for my
 use elide ther".11	 WHEAT PRODUCTIVITY ESTIMATES USING LANDVAT DATA
TYPE II PROGRESS REPORT
for the period
16 August 1975 - 15 November 1975
114800-8-L
NASA Contract No. NAS5 -22389
(E76-10117) WHEAT FRCDUCTIVITY ESTIMATES
USING LANDSAT DATA Progress Report, 16 Aug.
- 15 Nov. 1975 (Eavircnaental Research Inst.
of Michigan) 5 p HC S3.5C.
	 CSCL'.2C
Prepaied by
N76- 16540
Unclas
G3/43 OJ117
Richard F. Nal epka - Principal Investigator
John Colwell - Co-Principal Investigator
for
Mr. G.R. Stonesifer, NASA Technical Officer
Code 902
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Goddard Space Flight Center
Greenbelt Road
Greenbelt, Mal:yland	 20771
o2()GaL
A, W,
t
zAmmW 	 FORMERLY WILLOW RUN LABORATORIES, THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
Page 2	 114800-8-L
WHEAT PRODUCTIVITY ESTIMATES USING LANDSAT DATA
TYPE II PROGRESS REPORT
16 August 1975 - 15 November 1975
The follcwing report serves as the second Type II Progress Report for
LANDSAT Follow-on Investigation #2062L which is entitled, "Wheat Productivity
Estimates Using LANDSAT Data."
This investigation has two primary objectives. These objectives are:
1. To develop techniques and procedures for estimating character-
istics of wheat canopies which are correlated with potential
wheat grain yield (e.g., leaf-area index [L.A.I.], percent
vegetation cover, or dry weight biomass) by use of LANDSAT data.
2. To demonstrate the usefulness of LANDSAT data for estimation of
wheat yield on a LACIE (Large Area Crop Inventory Experiment)
intensive test site.
A. PROBLEMS
There have been some difficulties in obtaining data which is needed.
In particular, there is a need for aerial photographs obtained over.the
Finney, Kansas site, plus field-reflectance data obtained by the helicopter
and by the van. It is hoped that yield data from more of the fields on
which we made estimates of vegetative condition can be made available.
E. ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Reduction and analysis of field data has continued with the reduction
of radiometric data (hemispherical reflectance and transmittance of wheat
canopy components) being completed during this quarter. Most of the har-
vested wheat sample data has been separated into components and has been
dried and weighed. An algorithm for relating leaf dry weight to leaf area
has been developed using leaf area data as determined by using the leaf
area meter. This algorithm makes it possible to infer biological leaf
area (and L.A.I.) from the dry weight of leaf samples. Some of the leaf
1	 ^	 1
a
	 l	 ><	 r	 I
LRIM
FORMERLY WILLOW RUN LABORATORIES. THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
Page 3
	
114800-8-L
weight data has been transformed to leaf biomass and/or biological leaf
area index data.
Some of the aerial oblique photographs gathered during the field
measurement exercise have been examined to stratify fields into homo-
geneous areas, and to determine the percentage of each field occupied by
a particular stratum. This procedure is necessary in . order to properly
weigh field samples obtained in various strata. The procedure would be
simplified if copies of vertical aerial photographs of the site such as
those obtained by the NASA aircraft were available.
Ground photographs of the fields are now being examined to determine
the relative projected areas of the various plant canopy components. It
was hoped that these relative projected area data could further be reduced
to horizontal and vertical projected vegetation area indices. In simple
canopies this can be done with reasonable confidence. However, in vege-
tation canopies in which there are several (radiometrically different)
components, and an uneven distribution of these components in the vertical
dimension, a considerable number of assumptions have to be made in order
to reduce the photographic data. Most of the assumptions are only fair
approximations to reality. Therefore, in complex canopies, it may not be
possible to reduce relative projected area to horizontal and vertical pro-
jected area indices. Stereo ground photographs would make this problem
more soluable, and such photographs should probably be taken in the future.
Some of the data collected for this LANDSAT investigation has been
analyzed and reduced in ways that would be of benefit to other related
projects. In particular, some of the field data is being used to help
define wheat canopies and their characteristics for signature analysis
and signature extension for ERIM tasks on contract NAS9-14123, the NASA
SR&T program.
Details of the field sampling procedure have been documented. The
significance of parameters measured or estimated, and their relationships
to each other, have also been described. This material will be included
in the final report.
LANDSAT imagery and CCT's have been ordered and received. Preliminary
analysis of the imagery indicates that there is good data for the Finney
test site on November 22, 1974; and May 3 and 21, and June 18, 1975.
r^
cf-
i
1
WILLOW
Page 4
	
114800-8-L
Some field data (including crop yield) has been obtained from
Finney County Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service personnel
(Gordon O'Dell). Unfortunately, farmers' estimates of yield on a per-field
basis are available on only a few of the 13 fields on which vegetation con-
dition had been monitored by the ERIM field team. An attempt is being made
to derive other estimates of yield on the remainder of the 13 fields. With-
out such data it will be difficult to investigate the relationship between
yield and field vegetative conditions. However, yield data on many other
fields in the test site are available. Therefore, it should be possible to
investigate the relationship between LANDSAT data and yield.
C. RESULTS
Preliminary analysis of the wheat component radiometric data suggests
that the radiometric properties of a particular type of component (e.g.,
live leaves), may vary over time. This factor may make it more difficult
to uniquely relate LANDSAT radiance or reflectance data to canopy properties
(such as L.A.I.) as a function of time.
The biological leaf area index data shows that there can be large
variations in field vegetative condition from point to point. This is
especially true in flood-irrigated fields, in which plant density (and
development) varies drastically between rows that are in "channels" vs.
those that are in ":ailed" areas. Therefore, considerable care must be
used in interpreting the significance of isolated leaf area index measure-
ments made from a single wheat row.
One of the principal advantages of the photographic data is that
a fairly large area can be imaged (and hence sampled) on a single photo-
graph. It is felt that we were able to get more representative indications
of field vegetative condition from the ground photos than from a :iarvested
sample from one ',row.
D. PUBLICATIONS
No publications or abstracts of talks will be reported on during this
period.
^ERIM
fORMEgLY WILLOW RUN LwBOgRTOgiE S. THE UN1VF g5tiv OF Mir NrV AN
Page 5
	
114800-8-L
E. RECOMMENDATIONS
1. Delivery of aerial photos and field reflectance data to ERIM by
NASA/JSC should be expedited.
2. The possibility of a follow-on program should be considered at
this time so that field techniques can be further refined, and
personnel can be placed in the field starting in late April or
early May. A second-year program will be needed to demonstrate
the usefulness of LANDSAT data for forecasting and estimating
wheat yield in a year with a different weather. sequence. In
addition, optimally collected data on field condition will be of
considerable use not only to this project, but to other LACIE
related projects as well.
F. FUNDS EXPENDED
Total expenditures during the period 16 August through 15 November, 1975
are $57,766.
G. DATA USE
Value of Data	 Value of Data	 Value of Data
Allowed	 Ordered	 Received
USDI EROS Data Center
	 $12,000
	 $ 4,000	 ------
USDA/ASCS Aerial Photo-
graphy Field Office
	 $ 1,800
	 $	 432	 $ 432
Submitted by:01
R CHARD F. NALEPKA
Principal Investigator
Approved by:	 L
N D. ERI SON
Head, IS&A
Approved by:	 G^ q('%<
RICHARD R. LEGAULTV
Director, IROD
j cd


Wheat Productivity Estimates Using LANDSAT Data

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

NASA Technical Reports Server

NASA Technical Reports Server