Progress 06/18/09 to 04/30/11
Outputs
Progress Report Objectives (from AD-416) This agreement will provide for a cooperative research project to collect and analyze airborne imagery acquired with a high-resolution, color- infrared, digital camera over agricultural fields in Maryland and Delaware over the winter season. The purpose of the imagery is to calculate the amount of nitrogen in winter cover crops (concentration and biomass) and determine the potential amount of fertilizer required for growth while minimizing fertilizer runoff. Approach (from AD-416) Winter cover crops of wheat and rye will be planted in experimental fields, with the nitrogen rate varied using a step-applicator. In order to provide ground truth for the imagery, the following data will be collected: chlorophyll concentration, nitrogen concentration, biomass, leaf area index, and yield. A high-resolution, color-infrared, digital camera will be flown over the agricultural fields using either a manned aircraft or unmanned airborne system. Indices such as the green normalized difference vegetation index will be calculated and compared to the ground truth data. The goal of this research is to test the capabilities of high-spatial- resolution sensors over winter cover crops on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. The fields were selected from those enrolled into a Maryland Department of Agriculture program designed to reduce agricultural nutrient inputs into the Chesapeake Bay watershed, specifically at the Choptank River. For this work, two sensors with different band combinations were compared during an overflight in April 2010. The fields were planted with winter wheat and barley, with each field having a series of nitrogen fertilization treatments. Data are still being analyzed, but the results will be directly applicable to agricultural remote sensing using unmanned aerial systems (new name for UAV's). As the result of this research with FalconScan, ARS has published one peer- reviewed publication, and has had two special invitations to speak about the research. Progress on this project has been monitored through a series of meetings, as well as, e-mail communication.
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
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Progress 10/01/09 to 09/30/10
Outputs
Progress Report Objectives (from AD-416) This agreement will provide for a cooperative research project to collect and analyze airborne imagery acquired with a high-resolution, color-infrared, digital camera over agricultural fields in Maryland and Delaware over the winter season. The purpose of the imagery is to calculate the amount of nitrogen in winter cover crops (concentration and biomass) and determine the potential amount of fertilizer required for growth while minimizing fertilizer runoff. Approach (from AD-416) Winter cover crops of wheat and rye will be planted in experimental fields, with the nitrogen rate varied using a step-applicator. In order to provide ground truth for the imagery, the following data will be collected: chlorophyll concentration, nitrogen concentration, biomass, leaf area index, and yield. A high-resolution, color-infrared, digital camera will be flown over the agricultural fields using either a manned aircraft or unmanned airborne system. Indices such as the green normalized difference vegetation index will be calculated and compared to the ground truth data. The goal of this research is to test the capabilities of high-spatial- resolution sensors over winter cover crops on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. The fields were selected from those enrolled into a Maryland Department of Agriculture program designed to reduce agricultural nutrient inputs into the Chesapeake Bay watershed, specifically at the Choptank River. For this work, two sensors with different band combinations were compared during an overflight in April 2010. The fields were planted in winter wheat and barley, with each field having a series of nitrogen fertilization treatments. Data are still being analyzed, but the results will be directly applicable to agricultural remote sensing using unmanned aerial systems (new name for UAV's). As the result of this research with FalconScan, ARS has received two specific invitations by different professional societies to speak about this research. Progress on this project has been monitored through a series of meetings as well as e-mail communication.
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
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