Estimating Sugarcane Yield Potential Using an In-Season Determination of Normalized Difference Vegetative Index.docVIP

Sensors 2012, 12, 7529-7547; doi:10.3390/s120607529 OPEN ACCESS sensors ISSN 1424-8220 /journal/sensors Article Estimating Sugarcane Yield Potential Using an In-Season Determination of Normalized Difference Vegetative Index Josh Lofton 1, Brenda S. Tubana 2,*, Yumiko Kanke 2, Jasper Teboh 3, Howard Viator 4 and Marilyn Dalen 2 1 Macon Ridge Research Station, Louisiana State University AgCenter, Winnsboro, LA 71295, USA; E-Mail: jlofton@ 2 School of Plant, Environmental, and Soil Science, Louisiana State University AgCenter, Baton Rouge, LA 70801, USA; E-Mails: ykanke1@ (Y.K.); mdalen1@ (M.D.) 3 Carrington Research Extension Center, North Dakota State University, Carrington, ND 58421, USA; E-Mail: JTeboh@ 4 Iberia Research Station, Louisiana State University AgCenter, Jeanerette, LA 70544, USA; E-Mail: HViator@ * Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail: BTubana@; Tel.: +1-225-578-9420. Received: 13 April 2012; in revised form: 24 May 2012 / Accepted: 27 May 2012 / Published: 4 June 2012 Abstract: Estimating crop yield using remote sensing techniques has proven to be successful. However, sugarcane possesses unique characteristics; such as, a multi-year cropping cycle and plant height-limiting for midseason fertilizer application timing. Our study objective was to determine if sugarcane yield potential could be estimated using an in-season estimation of normalized difference vegetative index (NDVI). Sensor readings were taken using the GreenSeeker? handheld sensor from 2008 to 2011 in St. Gabriel and Jeanerette, LA, USA. In-season estimates of yield (INSEY) values were calculated by dividing NDVI by thermal variables. Optimum timing for estimating sugarcane yield was between 601–750 GDD. In-season estimated yield values improved the yield potential (YP) model compared to using NDVI. Generally, INSEY value showed a positive exponential relationship with yield (r2 v