Ps. Thenkabail et al., LANDSAT-5 THEMATIC MAPPER MODELS OF SOYBEAN AND CORN CROP CHARACTERISTICS, International journal of remote sensing, 15(1), 1994, pp. 49-61
This study used Landsat-5 Thematic Mapper (TM) data to develop empiric
al models for determining soybean and corn crop yield, leaf area index
. wet biomass, dry biomass and plant height. Ground-truth data was obt
ained from more than 50 commercial farms in Ohio, USA, during 1988 and
1989. Several significant linear, non-linear, logarithmic, exponentia
l, and power models were developed. The best soybean models generally
comprised of information from the commonly-used bands 3 and 4. TM data
for the most significant soybean models explained 69 to 76 per cent o
f the between field variability in wet biomass, dry biomass, and plant
height, 63 per cent of the variability in leaf area index, and 35 per
cent of the variability in yield. The best corn models incorporated b
and 5 and/or band 7 along with band 4. The most significant corn model
s explained 80 per cent of the variability in wet biomass, 66 to 67 pe
r cent of the variability in dry biomass, plant height, and leaf area
index, and 52 per cent of the variability in yield. A new cubed ratio
vegetation index. (TM4/TM5)3, was found to be particularly useful for
modelling corn characteristics.