Data from space satellites, drones and ground systems can be used to predict grain crop yields, the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (SB RAS) said.

As explained at the academy, this method is based on the reflectivity of plants. It depends on their current state, as well as changes against the background of changes in the environment - drought, the late arrival of spring, pests.

"All these factors influence the amount of light reflected by the plants. It is recorded by satellite, or by an unmanned aerial vehicle. During the research, scientists noticed that the values of the reflection spectra are related to the yield at the end of the growing season," the academy said.

However, according to the experts, each of these methods has its limitations. For example, the quality of satellite images depends on the weather and atmospheric transparency, while drones have a limited imagery range. The most accurate information can be obtained by combining the two methods. This way it will be applicable to both large and local areas.

In their opinion, another promising application of remote sensing in agriculture is calculation of foliar application volumes, which will enable farmers to save on fertilizers.

Made in Russia // Made in Russia

Author: Karina Kamalova