Winter oilseed rape and winter wheat growth prediction using remote sensing methods

Abstract

Remote sensing is often used for yield prediction as well as for crop monitoring. This paper describes how Landsat satellite data can be used to derive a growth model calculated from normalised difference vegetation index that can predict winter wheat (Triticum aestivum) and winter oilseed rape (Brassica napus) phenological state using the Biologische Bundesanstalt, Bundessortenamt und Chemische Industrie scale. Time series of Landsat images were chosen from the years 2004, 2008 and 2012, when winter oilseed rape was grown, and 2005, 2009, 2011 and 2013, when winter wheat was grown in the same experimental field. The images were selected from the whole growing season of both crops. An advantage of this method is the easy availability of the remote sensing and its easy application for deriving a prediction model from vegetation indices. Our results showed that Landsat images, after correct pre-processing, can be used for winter wheat and winter oilseed rape growth model prediction.