Use of remote sensing indices in estimation of canopy cover, biomass and planting date of wheat

Wheat is the main source of food production in Iran. Khuzestan and Fars provinces are the two main poles of production in Iran. Determination of wheat yield components is of particular importance in the planning of planting and production of this crop. In this study, wheat yield in different growth stages was estimated using canopy cover as well as wheat biomass using satellite imagery. NDVI and LWCI indices from Landsat 8 satellite images were used to determine canopy cover and biomass at four fields in Darab and Zarangan in Fars and Dezful and Omidiyeh in Khuzestan during two crop years. Canopy cover was determined by field imaging and application of ENVI software; and biomass was measured during growing season by field sampling to compare with estimated values obtained by remote sensing. A linear relationship was found between canopy cover and NDVI with a R2=0.88. The coefficients of determination of this relationship in Dezful, Omidieh, Darab and Zarghan were 0.96, 0.93, 0.95 and 0.89, respectively. Biomass was determined using remote sensing indices and average biomass of each region, during the growing season. Model efficiency values based on EF index for biomass estimation in Dezful, Omidiyeh, Darab and Zarqan were 81, 71, 82 and 80 percent, respectively. Plotting NDVI values over time during the growing season also provided a method for estimating the appropriate wheat planting date. This study presented a low-cost and less-time consuming method for passing difficult field measurements that can be used to estimate canopy cover, biomass, and wheat planting date in the study areas.