Hyperspectral Remote Sensing as a Management Tool for a Land Application Program, 1998 Environmental Conference Proceedings

Ken Diehn

Pope & Talbot, Inc.

Doug Hermann

STS Consultants, Ltd.

Hyperspectral remote sensing is emerging as an agricultural management tool. The technology offers real time and time series analysis of spectral reflectance from land masses and vegetation. Hyperspectral remote sensing and precision yield monitoring were utilized to delineate crop stress, caused in part by the land application of wastewater residuals to farm land. An AISA hyperspectral sensor from Spectral Imaging (Finland) was used to capture spectral data from an airborne platform. The sensor offers a 1 to 4 square meter pixel ground resolution and contains spectral reflectance data from 430 to 900 nanometer wavelength. The spectral data is divided into 26 band widths which may be compared and analyzed individually or collectively for optimum interpretation. The differential green and combined red and near infrared spectral data was most useful in delineating and diagnosing crop stress coupled with ground truth information. Crop stress from land application practices versus natural environmental and agricultural management factors were delineated. Hyperspectral remote sensing and yield monitoring can also assist other agriculture management activities including seed hybrid selection; planting density; fertilizer, herbicide and pesticide applications; soil amendment needs; irrigation needs; and harvesting schedule.