Determination of the cultivated area and plant density of sugar beet fields using satellite data

The purpose of this study was to determine the plant density of sugar beet fields in Qazvin region using satellite images and remote sensing techniques. The plant density can be used to estimate the pre-harvest sugar beet yield and as a result the proper management of agricultural and industrial processes involved in sugar production. Satellite data can be used to remove the cost and time of conventional field methods. In this study, using satellite imagery of TM and GeoEye, the plant density of sugar beet fields in a part of Qazvin region was estimated in 2011. Results derived from the assessment of accuracy of operations and comparison of the maps obtained from remote sensing data with ground samples showed that using satellite data, the plant density of sugar beet can be estimated with relative certainty. The calculation of the overall data showed that the accuracy of maps outputs was 91.7% with Kappai coefficient of 0.84. In addition, remote sensing data can illustrate the density variation in different parts of the field.