Lombokvibes.com- Agriculture and satellite imagery have been closely related since the onset of regular Earth observations from Landsat in the early 1970s. Thanks to advancements in the quality, frequency, and availability of space-based data, the input of satellite technologies in farming has immensely grown to eventually become an integral part of modern field management routines.
By providing farmers with the most essential – timely, accurate information about what’s
happening with the crops and around them – satellites help maximize yields and minimize
production costs while hitting the sweet spot of growers’ profits and environmental interests.
The Science Behind Insights from Space
The true value of satellite imagery is measured by the spectral prowess of sensors that
capture it. Remote sensing technology underlying the process allows us to measure the solar radiance (or another energy source) reflected and absorbed by various objects on the Earth’s surface, such as vegetation, soils, rocks, rivers and oceans, glaciers, etc.
Due to various physicochemical properties, they interact with the radiation differently,
meaning the measurements vary accordingly. Furthermore, a healthy plant with strong
photosynthetic activity will reflect and absorb sunlight differently than a stressed plant. Based on years of observations and research, scientists discovered the unique “fingerprints” of objects known as spectral signatures to facilitate their identification and invented an array of ratios (indices) that help analyze various aspects of their state.
In agriculture, vegetation indices are the most widely utilized remote sensing method. Each
index is tailored to assess specific plant characteristics, ranging from leaf area to moisture content, and provides insight into the critical parameters that affect crop production and future yields. For instance, NVDI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) shows how a plant reflects red and near-infrared (NIR) light waves to estimate its health, or rather live green biomass and vegetation vigor. In particular, a healthy plant actively absorbs red and reflects NIR light.
Yet, there’s more to it: every crop wasn’t made equal in terms of leaf area, chlorophyll
content, water, and nutrient demands, etc., so vegetation index analysis should always go
hand in hand with agronomic wisdom and make allowance for a specific crop type, growth stage, geography, and even local climate to provide reliable results.
Here’s an example: while NDVI imagery proves a high level of accuracy in wheat and rice observations at most, making valid interpretation more challenging. In other words, the index becomes less effective when vegetation density is at its highest.
To account for the many nuances associated with crop cultivation, there are indices adjusted
for various soils, based on water and moisture content, and many others – all with the sole purpose of enhancing the accuracy of remote field monitoring from space and reducing the
need for on-site inspections.
How Modern Farmers Can Benefit from Satellite Data Precious insights derived from Earth observations have been central to advancing sustainable farming techniques, both economically and environmentally. As the driving force behind the concept of producing more with less, satellite technologies become synonymous with optimal allocation of farm inputs, enhanced productivity, and reduced environmental footprint. Let’s explore the key applications and benefits of introducing the power of the cosmos into your farm.
● Crop monitoring and management. Equipped with regularly updated views of their
fields, crop growers can continuously observe plant growth and development
throughout the season to spot any anomalies before the symptoms are apparent,
including nutrient deficiencies, weather-induced stresses, pests, and diseases, and
take timely action to maintain adequate productivity.
● Precise irrigation, fertilization, and seeding. Satellites assist agriculturalists in
splitting the field into zones based on crop performance and soil variability, which is
the cornerstone of precision farming. Index-based assessment of individual crop
needs for water, nutrients, or crop protection agents allows for the determination of
the varying application rates of corresponding inputs. Ultimately, farmers achieve the
same (or better) yields with fewer investments and costs – not only to their budgets
but also to the environment. For instance, NDVI maps are instrumental in revealing
high- and low-productivity plots within fields and crops’ nitrogen (N) needs.
● Growth stage and yield prediction. Vegetation index values derived from satellite
imagery (e.g., NDVI calculation) are used to identify crops’ exact growth stages and
predict potential yield per acre early on. Combining satellite analytics with deep
learning algorithms leads to more accurate yield estimation, translating into better
harvest storage, logistics, and marketing planning.
● Crop rotation. Plotting a viable crop rotation scheme requires data on previous crop
types grown, which can be obtained from archived satellite imagery. Moreover,
satellites can be further used to track the efficiency of rotation strategies based on
insights into soil health and crop performance. Crop rotation is just one of many
sustainable farming practices that upkeep soil fertility and prevent soil degradation,
which is among the biggest challenges of modern agriculture.
● Weather tracking and climate resilience. Utilizing satellite technologies also covers
the critical aspect of weather in agriculture, which can make or break future yields.
Amidst the growing variability and unpredictability of rainfall and air temperatures,
accurate weather forecasts and insight into weather patterns based on satellite time
series improve planning of every field activity, from sowing to fertilization to
harvesting, and strengthen the farm’s resilience to weather whimsies. So, farmers
heavily rely on satellite solutions for weather, to minimize the damage to their crops, land, and even infrastructure.
Integrating Satellite Data with Crop Management We’ve come to the main part: how do crop growers access satellite imagery and draw insights? Advances in space technologies were accompanied by a quantum leap in computing powers– the emergence of cloud computing, big data, and AI – making satellite data processing faster, more simple, and affordable. Space tech companies fueled the expansion of satellite imagery applications by developing specialized software for a number of industries, including
agriculture, forestry, oil and gas, mining, etc., to help more vital branches of the economy
unlock the potential of insights from space.
Among them is EOS Data Analytics, a global satellite analytics provider that utilizes its
multifaceted in-house expertise to craft sustainability-focused solutions and services that empower decision-making in major sectors. Its flagship online platform, EOSDA Crop Monitoring, caters to the needs of a wide range of agriculture market players, from agronomists to advisers to agricultural insurers. It forms a one-stop hub for accessing, storing, and analyzing farm data, including a host of team management features – whatever you need to streamline farming operations, better plan and oversee field activities, and enhance crop productivity.
EOSDA Crop Monitoring is ideal for tracking crop health remotely: NDVI calculation and
other vegetation indices enable continuous observance of plant conditions and early
detection of threats. Additionally, users can generate variable-rate application maps for
seeding, fertilization, and irrigation, making sure every drop or gram of farm inputs goes
exactly where it’s most needed. As a result, farmers secure thriving crops and preserve
healthy soils and environment, not to mention a tangible economy of budget. The namesake
app works best for scouts, dispatching them to exact locations that require urgent and
thorough inspection.
As AI and machine learning are finding their way into nearly every aspect of business, EOSDA masterfully merges their power with a wealth of satellite data to bring custom analytics solutions for agricultural sector. Yield prediction, field boundary detection, and crop
classification with up to 90% of accuracy are informing the most critical growing choices and decisions on any scale.
Satellites have been revolutionizing farming, making it more efficient and sustainable to meet the growing food demand, adapt to weather variability, and slow down climate change.
Accurate, near real-time insights into crop and soil conditions drawn from thousands of “eyes in the sky” and easily accessible via modern farm software are guiding agriculturalists towards efficient and careful use of available resources, promoting precision ag practices, and keeping soils fertile to enhance plant growth and sustain it for generations to come. Ultimately, satellite technologies and solutions altogether drive us closer to reaching a goal that’s on the plate of global agricultural stakeholders – a climate-resilient food sector producing enough food for billions of people and a solid food security. (*)
