Modeling Mid-Season Rice Nitrogen Uptake Using Multispectral Satellite Data

Mid-season nitrogen (N) application in rice crops can maximize yield and profitability. This requires accurate and efficient methods of determining rice N uptake in order to prescribe optimal N amounts for topdressing. This study aims to determine the accuracy of using remotely sensed multispectral...

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Main Authors: James Brinkhoff, Brian W. Dunn, Andrew J. Robson, Tina S. Dunn, Remy L. Dehaan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2019-08-01
Series:Remote Sensing
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/11/15/1837
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author James Brinkhoff
Brian W. Dunn
Andrew J. Robson
Tina S. Dunn
Remy L. Dehaan
author_facet James Brinkhoff
Brian W. Dunn
Andrew J. Robson
Tina S. Dunn
Remy L. Dehaan
author_sort James Brinkhoff
collection DOAJ
description Mid-season nitrogen (N) application in rice crops can maximize yield and profitability. This requires accurate and efficient methods of determining rice N uptake in order to prescribe optimal N amounts for topdressing. This study aims to determine the accuracy of using remotely sensed multispectral data from satellites to predict N uptake of rice at the panicle initiation (PI) growth stage, with a view to providing optimum variable-rate N topdressing prescriptions without needing physical sampling. Field experiments over 4 years, 4&#8722;6 N rates, 4 varieties and 2 sites were conducted, with at least 3 replicates of each plot. One WorldView satellite image for each year was acquired, close to the date of PI. Numerous single- and multi-variable models were investigated. Among single-variable models, the square of the NDRE vegetation index was shown to be a good predictor of N uptake (R<inline-formula> <math display="inline"> <semantics> <msup> <mrow></mrow> <mn>2</mn> </msup> </semantics> </math> </inline-formula> = 0.75, RMSE = 22.8 kg/ha for data pooled from all years and experiments). For multi-variable models, Lasso regularization was used to ensure an interpretable and compact model was chosen and to avoid over fitting. Combinations of remotely sensed reflectances and spectral indexes as well as variety, climate and management data as input variables for model training achieved R<inline-formula> <math display="inline"> <semantics> <msup> <mrow></mrow> <mn>2</mn> </msup> </semantics> </math> </inline-formula>&lt; 0.9 and RMSE &lt; 15 kg/ha for the pooled data set. The ability of remotely sensed data to predict N uptake in new seasons where no physical sample data has yet been obtained was tested. A methodology to extract models that generalize well to new seasons was developed, avoiding model overfitting. Lasso regularization selected four or less input variables, and yielded R<inline-formula> <math display="inline"> <semantics> <msup> <mrow></mrow> <mn>2</mn> </msup> </semantics> </math> </inline-formula> of better than 0.67 and RMSE better than 27.4 kg/ha over four test seasons that weren&#8217;t used to train the models.
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spelling doaj.art-c53cbb9bc1e943cea70f78713040c2b82022-12-21T19:42:01ZengMDPI AGRemote Sensing2072-42922019-08-011115183710.3390/rs11151837rs11151837Modeling Mid-Season Rice Nitrogen Uptake Using Multispectral Satellite DataJames Brinkhoff0Brian W. Dunn1Andrew J. Robson2Tina S. Dunn3Remy L. Dehaan4Applied Agricultural Remote Sensing Centre, University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351, AustraliaNSW Department of Primary Industries, 2198 Irrigation Way, Yanco, NSW 2703, AustraliaApplied Agricultural Remote Sensing Centre, University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351, AustraliaNSW Department of Primary Industries, 2198 Irrigation Way, Yanco, NSW 2703, AustraliaEH Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation (NSW Department of Primary Industries and Charles Sturt University), Locked Bag 588, Wagga, NSW 2678, AustraliaMid-season nitrogen (N) application in rice crops can maximize yield and profitability. This requires accurate and efficient methods of determining rice N uptake in order to prescribe optimal N amounts for topdressing. This study aims to determine the accuracy of using remotely sensed multispectral data from satellites to predict N uptake of rice at the panicle initiation (PI) growth stage, with a view to providing optimum variable-rate N topdressing prescriptions without needing physical sampling. Field experiments over 4 years, 4&#8722;6 N rates, 4 varieties and 2 sites were conducted, with at least 3 replicates of each plot. One WorldView satellite image for each year was acquired, close to the date of PI. Numerous single- and multi-variable models were investigated. Among single-variable models, the square of the NDRE vegetation index was shown to be a good predictor of N uptake (R<inline-formula> <math display="inline"> <semantics> <msup> <mrow></mrow> <mn>2</mn> </msup> </semantics> </math> </inline-formula> = 0.75, RMSE = 22.8 kg/ha for data pooled from all years and experiments). For multi-variable models, Lasso regularization was used to ensure an interpretable and compact model was chosen and to avoid over fitting. Combinations of remotely sensed reflectances and spectral indexes as well as variety, climate and management data as input variables for model training achieved R<inline-formula> <math display="inline"> <semantics> <msup> <mrow></mrow> <mn>2</mn> </msup> </semantics> </math> </inline-formula>&lt; 0.9 and RMSE &lt; 15 kg/ha for the pooled data set. The ability of remotely sensed data to predict N uptake in new seasons where no physical sample data has yet been obtained was tested. A methodology to extract models that generalize well to new seasons was developed, avoiding model overfitting. Lasso regularization selected four or less input variables, and yielded R<inline-formula> <math display="inline"> <semantics> <msup> <mrow></mrow> <mn>2</mn> </msup> </semantics> </math> </inline-formula> of better than 0.67 and RMSE better than 27.4 kg/ha over four test seasons that weren&#8217;t used to train the models.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/11/15/1837ricenitrogen managementremote sensingmultispectral imageryreflectance indexmultiple variable linear regressionLasso model
spellingShingle James Brinkhoff
Brian W. Dunn
Andrew J. Robson
Tina S. Dunn
Remy L. Dehaan
Modeling Mid-Season Rice Nitrogen Uptake Using Multispectral Satellite Data
Remote Sensing
rice
nitrogen management
remote sensing
multispectral imagery
reflectance index
multiple variable linear regression
Lasso model
title Modeling Mid-Season Rice Nitrogen Uptake Using Multispectral Satellite Data
title_full Modeling Mid-Season Rice Nitrogen Uptake Using Multispectral Satellite Data
title_fullStr Modeling Mid-Season Rice Nitrogen Uptake Using Multispectral Satellite Data
title_full_unstemmed Modeling Mid-Season Rice Nitrogen Uptake Using Multispectral Satellite Data
title_short Modeling Mid-Season Rice Nitrogen Uptake Using Multispectral Satellite Data
title_sort modeling mid season rice nitrogen uptake using multispectral satellite data
topic rice
nitrogen management
remote sensing
multispectral imagery
reflectance index
multiple variable linear regression
Lasso model
url https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/11/15/1837
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