Multiindex Multitemporal Approach to MAP Crops in the Early Growing Season. An Application to Two Italian Irrigation Districts: East Sesia and Grande Bonifiga Ferrarese

摘要

The feasibility of a method to determine quality, quantity, and type of crops and their water stress by LANDSAT images was tested in two irrigation districts in the Po valley, Italy. In spite of striking misestimates, results are promising, 5 out of 11 crops being detected. However, the uncertain number of yearly available images and lack of reference data to tune the method inhibit the operational development of this tool. It is emphasized that the feasibility of mapping individual crops by means of LANDSAT-MSS data is definitely proven in principle. A semioperational use of such data would provide an opportunity to iron out practical details and assess the amount of needed ancillary and ground-reference data, given the required accuracy of determination.