Monitoring corn nitrogen nutrition index from optical and synthetic aperture radar satellite data and soil available nitrogen

Abstract

Nitrogen (N) nutrition index (NNI) is a reliable indicator of plant N status for field crops, but its determination is both labor- and cost-intensive. The utilization of remote sensing approaches for monitoring N, mainly in relevant crops such as of corn (Zea mays L.), will be critical for enhancing effective use of this nutrient. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess NNI predicted from optical and C-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (C-SAR) satellite data and available soil N (Nₐᵥ) at different vegetative growth stages for corn crop. Eleven field studies were conducted in the Pampas region (Argentina), applying five fertilizer N rates (0, 60, 120, 180, and 240 kg N ha⁻¹), all at sowing time. Plant samples were collected at sixth-leaf (V₆), tenth-leaf (V₁₀), fourteen-leaf (V₁₄), and flowering (R₁). Using linear regression models, NNI was best predicted using only optical satellite data from V₆ to V₁₄, and integrating optical with C-SAR plus Nₐᵥ at R₁. The best monitoring model integrated vegetation spectral indices, C-SAR and Nₐᵥ data at V₁₀ with an adjusted R² of 0.75 achieved during calibration in the northern Pampa. During validation, it predicted NNI with an RMSE of 0.14 and a MAPE of 12% in the southeastern Pampa. The red-edge spectrum and Local Incidence Angle of C-SAR were necessary to monitor the corn N status via prediction of NNI. Thus, this study provided empirical models to remotely sensed corn N status within fields during vegetative period, serving as a foundational data for guiding future N management.

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