Ad Hoc Modeling of Root Zone Soil Water with Landsat Imagery and Terrain and Soils Data

Agricultural producers require knowledge of soil water at plant rooting depths,while many remote sensing studies have focused on surface soil water or mechanisticmodels that are not easily parameterized. We developed site-specific empirical models topredict spring soil water content for two Montana...

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Main Authors: Jon M. Wraith, Rick L. Lawrence, Joel B. Sankey
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2008-01-01
Series:Sensors
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/8/1/314/
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author Jon M. Wraith
Rick L. Lawrence
Joel B. Sankey
author_facet Jon M. Wraith
Rick L. Lawrence
Joel B. Sankey
author_sort Jon M. Wraith
collection DOAJ
description Agricultural producers require knowledge of soil water at plant rooting depths,while many remote sensing studies have focused on surface soil water or mechanisticmodels that are not easily parameterized. We developed site-specific empirical models topredict spring soil water content for two Montana ranches. Calibration data sample sizeswere based on the estimated variability of soil water and the desired level of precision forthe soil water estimates. Models used Landsat imagery, a digital elevation model, and asoil survey as predictor variables. Our objectives were to see whether soil water could bepredicted accurately with easily obtainable calibration data and predictor variables and toconsider the relative influence of the three sources of predictor variables. Independentvalidation showed that multiple regression models predicted soil water with average error(RMSD) within 0.04 mass water content. This was similar to the accuracy expected basedon a statistical power test based on our sample size (n = 41 and n = 50). Improvedprediction precision could be achieved with additional calibration samples, and rangemanagers can readily balance the desired level of precision with the amount of effort tocollect calibration data. Spring soil water prediction effectively utilized a combination ofland surface imagery, terrain data, and subsurface soil characterization data. Rancherscould use accurate spring soil water content predictions to set stocking rates. Suchmanagement can help ensure that water, soil, and vegetation resources are usedconservatively in irrigated and non-irrigated rangeland systems.
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spelling doaj.art-df831b613f524c01803f9007d0681ff12022-12-22T04:00:52ZengMDPI AGSensors1424-82202008-01-0181314326Ad Hoc Modeling of Root Zone Soil Water with Landsat Imagery and Terrain and Soils DataJon M. WraithRick L. LawrenceJoel B. SankeyAgricultural producers require knowledge of soil water at plant rooting depths,while many remote sensing studies have focused on surface soil water or mechanisticmodels that are not easily parameterized. We developed site-specific empirical models topredict spring soil water content for two Montana ranches. Calibration data sample sizeswere based on the estimated variability of soil water and the desired level of precision forthe soil water estimates. Models used Landsat imagery, a digital elevation model, and asoil survey as predictor variables. Our objectives were to see whether soil water could bepredicted accurately with easily obtainable calibration data and predictor variables and toconsider the relative influence of the three sources of predictor variables. Independentvalidation showed that multiple regression models predicted soil water with average error(RMSD) within 0.04 mass water content. This was similar to the accuracy expected basedon a statistical power test based on our sample size (n = 41 and n = 50). Improvedprediction precision could be achieved with additional calibration samples, and rangemanagers can readily balance the desired level of precision with the amount of effort tocollect calibration data. Spring soil water prediction effectively utilized a combination ofland surface imagery, terrain data, and subsurface soil characterization data. Rancherscould use accurate spring soil water content predictions to set stocking rates. Suchmanagement can help ensure that water, soil, and vegetation resources are usedconservatively in irrigated and non-irrigated rangeland systems.http://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/8/1/314/empirical modelsprecision agriculturerangelandsite-specific agriculturesoil survey
spellingShingle Jon M. Wraith
Rick L. Lawrence
Joel B. Sankey
Ad Hoc Modeling of Root Zone Soil Water with Landsat Imagery and Terrain and Soils Data
Sensors
empirical models
precision agriculture
rangeland
site-specific agriculture
soil survey
title Ad Hoc Modeling of Root Zone Soil Water with Landsat Imagery and Terrain and Soils Data
title_full Ad Hoc Modeling of Root Zone Soil Water with Landsat Imagery and Terrain and Soils Data
title_fullStr Ad Hoc Modeling of Root Zone Soil Water with Landsat Imagery and Terrain and Soils Data
title_full_unstemmed Ad Hoc Modeling of Root Zone Soil Water with Landsat Imagery and Terrain and Soils Data
title_short Ad Hoc Modeling of Root Zone Soil Water with Landsat Imagery and Terrain and Soils Data
title_sort ad hoc modeling of root zone soil water with landsat imagery and terrain and soils data
topic empirical models
precision agriculture
rangeland
site-specific agriculture
soil survey
url http://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/8/1/314/
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AT joelbsankey adhocmodelingofrootzonesoilwaterwithlandsatimageryandterrainandsoilsdata