"Remote sensing is the science of acquiring, processing, and Interpreting images and related data without physical contact with object that are obtained from ground based, air or space-borne instruments that record the interaction between target and electromagnetic radiation."

1. REMOTE SENSING
APPLICATIONS IN AGRICULTURE
Malik Ghulam Asghar
M. Phil. Agronomy
Department of Agronomy
Bahauddin Zakariya University Multan

2. Introduction
“Remote” means “away”
Remote sensing means sensing things from a distance.
“Remote sensing is science of acquiring, processing, and
Interpreting images and related data without physical contact with
object that are obtained from ground based, air or space-borne
instruments that record the interaction between target and
electromagnetic radiation.”
Campbell (1987)

3. Remote sensing platforms
3) Satellite based2) Air based1) Ground based

4. Satellite Based platform
The path followed by a satellite is
referred to as its orbit.
As a satellite revolves around the
Earth, the sensor "sees“ certain
portion of the Earth's surface.
The area imaged on the surface, is
referred to as the swath.

5. Process of Remote Sensing
(A) Energy source or illumination
(B) Radiation and the atmosphere
(C) Interaction with the target
(D) Recording of energy by the sensor
(E) Transmission, reception, and processing
(F) Interpretation and analysis
(G) Application

6. Types of Remote Sensing
Passive remote sensing is a system which measures energy
that is naturally available.
For example : Sun
This can only take place during the time when the sun is
illuminating the Earth.

7. Types of Remote Sensing
Active remote sensing provide their own energy source for
illumination.
The sensor emits radiation which is directed toward the target to
be investigated.
The radiation reflected from that target is detected and measured
by the sensor.

8. Radiation – Target Interaction
There are three (3) forms of interaction
that can take place when energy
strikes, or is incident (I) upon the
surface.
1) Absorption (A)
2) Transmission (T)
3) Reflection (R)
➢Specular reflection
➢Diffuse reflection

9. 1) Specular reflection
When a surface is smooth we
get specular or mirror-like
reflection where all of the
energy is directed away from
the surface in a single
direction.
2) Diffused reflection
Diffuse reflection occurs when
the surface is rough and the
energy is reflected almost
uniformly in all directions. Most
earth surface features lie
somewhere between perfectly
diffuse reflectors.
Types of Reflection

10. Spectral signature for vegetation
A signature is that which gives an information about an object to its
identity.
Identity is whatever makes an entity recognizable.

11. Spectral signature for vegetation
1) Chlorophyll
A general characteristic of vegetation is its green colour caused
by the pigment chlorophyll.
Chlorophyll reflects green energy more than red and blue energy,
which gives plants green colour.
2) Leaf Thickness
The major difference in leaf reflectance between species, are
dependent upon leaf thickness.
Thick leaf Thin leaf

12. Spectral signature for vegetation
3) Leaf Shape
Needle-leaf trees canopies reflect significantly less near infrared
radiation compared to broad-leaf vegetation.
4) Crop Growth Stage
Immature leaves contain less chlorophyll than older leaves, they
reflect more visible light and less infrared radiation.

13. Spectral signature for vegetation
5) Leaf Maturity
Reflectance percentage vary with respect to leaf maturity.

14. Spectral signature for vegetation
6) Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI)
“It is the ratio of the difference of the near-infrared and red
reflectance, over the sum of both.”.
NDVI = (NIR - Red) / (NIR + Red)
Where,
NDVI = Normalized Difference Vegetation Index
NIR = Near Infrared Radiations
Red = Red Radiations

15. APPLICATIONS OF REMOTE SENSING
IN AGRICULTURE

16. 1) Monitoring of Crop Status
Identifying stressed plants

17. 1) Monitoring of Crop Status
Identifying stressed plants

18. 1) Monitoring of Crop Status
Identifying stressed plants

19. 1) Monitoring of Crop Status
Estimating water content from remote sensing
Source: Wikimedia Commons and US Agricultural Research Service

20. 1) Monitoring of Crop Status
Combating disease and pests
Mapping of Mississippi River delta, identifying the most probable
areas where insects might attack.
Source: Environmental Health Perspectives, Volume 108 (3), March 2000

21. 1) Monitoring of Crop Status
Combating disease and pests
A moth larvae eating a leaf. The damage can be detected with
remote sensing data, by estimating the loss of leaf area.
Source: Mel Evans, Associated Press

22. 2) Crop Yield Estimation

23. 3) Crop Identification

24. 4) Precision Agriculture
“Precision agriculture (PA) or site specific crop management
(SSCM) is a farming management concept based on observing,
measuring and responding to inter and intra-field variability in
crops.”

25. 4) Precision Agriculture
Identifying fertilization and pesticide requirements
The Variable Rate Treatment (VRT) is a system that regulates the
rate of pesticides or fertilizers, releasing only the required amount
over the areas or the field that are in need of the chemicals.

26. 4) Precision Agriculture
Precision Crop Management (PCM)
It is an agricultural management system that aims to provide to
the crop what it needs, when it needs it and where it needs it.
It requires the collection of data regarding the crop and the soil
and the identification of the changes that occur in the field as time
goes by.

27. REMOTE SENSING IN
PAKISTAN’S AGRICULTURE

28. Remote sensing in Pakistan
In 2005 Ministry of Food and Agriculture
(MINFA) opted to invest in advanced
technologies for gathering spatial information on
agriculture/ crops sector.
For this purpose, MINFA invited SUPARCO, the
National Space Agency of Pakistan, to develop:
• crop area algorithms
• crop yield models
based on the application of satellite remote
sensing, GIS technology, crop agronomy and
agro-meteorology.

29. Remote sensing in Pakistan
Satellite based Crop Monitoring System (Pak-SCMS)
SUPARCO in collaboration with MINFA, started developing a
satellite based crop Monitoring system during 2005.
To provide fast track and accurate information on:
▪ Crop types
▪ Cover area
Agricultural mask of Pakistan was developed based on high
resolution data
Data was acquired during peak growth seasons:
• February for Rabi crops
• September for Kharif crops.

30. Remote sensing in Pakistan

31. Conclusion
▪ Remote sensing technology can be used:
✓ To assess various abiotic and biotic stresses in different crop.
✓To identify various crops
✓This can also be used in yield forecasting
✓This technology can help in agricultural decision making

32. Thank you !
Any Question ..?