Resumen

SERRANO, João et al. Using indexes obtained from satellite imagery to monitor pastures and support the management of montado ecosystems. Rev. de Ciências Agrárias [online]. 2019, vol.42, n.4, pp.1-10. ISSN 0871-018X.  https://doi.org/10.19084/rca.18638.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential of using satellite images for monitoring the quality of pastures and soil surface moisture in the montado ecosystem. The experiment was carried out between 2016 and 2018 in an experimental field located at Herdade da Mitra, at Valverde (Évora). Twelve 10m x 10m plots were selected and associated to “Sentinel-2” pixels. During Spring, monthly pasture samples were taken from these pixels, and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI) were calculated. Between January 2017 and June 2018 monthly values of soil surface moisture (0-0.20m) were recorded. The results indicate significant correlations between: (i) NDVI and NDWI; (ii) between both indexes and the pasture quality parameters (crude protein, CP; Neutral Detergent Fiber, NDF; moisture, HP; and Pasture Quality Degradation Index, PQDI); (iii) between NDWI and soil moisture content (HS). This information confirms the interest in using satellite images for management of pastures and animal stocking, especially in terms of monitoring the needs for supplementary animal feed in the critical period between spring and summer.

Palabras clave : pastures quality; soil moisture content; satellite imagery; NDVI; NDWI.

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