The use of LANDSAT TM data for estimating the interaction of sugar beet yields damaged by cold and wet weather in 1993 with soil properties

Abstract

Sugar beet crop was seriously damaged by cold and wet injury at the Tokachi area of Hokkaido in Japan 1993. I tried to estimate relation of sugar beet yield to soil properties using LANDSAT TM data which were acquired on July 8 1993. Geographical distribution of sugar beet yields was mapped from NDVI (normalized difference vegetation index) on the basis of the TM data and the mean temperature in July. The regional variability of the yield was calculated dividing original estimated yield by the broad trend of the yield, and examined with some soil properties. Relatively low regional yields was related to the soil type with poor drainage condition, existence of compact subsoil, and lack of gravel layer. These results suggest that the remotly sensed data may be useful for estimation of the interaction of soil, weather and crop growth.