Harnessing remote sensing for early detection of water and nutrient stress in corn

This project aims to develop a protocol using advanced remote sensing technologies to detect early water and nutrient stress in corn. The primary objectives include identifying sensitive hyperspectral bands for NPK stress detection, evaluating the effectiveness of fluorescence and thermal imaging, and integrating various instruments with biophysical measurements for a comprehensive analysis. The study identifies specific bands indicative of nutrient and water stress by employing hyperspectral sensors, ASD FieldSpec3 sensor, thermal cameras, multispectral sensors, and SPAD meters. Fluorescence measurements correlate chlorophyll levels with nitrogen, while thermal imaging provides insights into water stress. Additional tools like Time Domain Reflectometry (TDR) sensors assess soil moisture content. Integrating these technologies with measurements like the Leaf Area Index (LAI) and crop height enhances stress detection accuracy. This research contributes significantly to precision agriculture, promoting sustainable and efficient farming practices in corn cultivation.