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Exploring the prospects of UAV-remotely sensed data in estimating productivity of maize crops in typical smallholder farms of Southern Africa

Author

Listed:
  • Sibanda, M.
  • Buthelezi, S.
  • Mutanga, O.
  • Odindi, J.
  • Clulow, A. D.
  • Chimonyo, V. G. P.
  • Gokool, S.
  • Naiken, V.
  • Magidi, J.
  • Mabhaudhi, Tafadzwanashe

    (International Water Management Institute)

Abstract

This study estimated maize grain biomass, and grain biomass as a proportion of the absolute maize plant biomass using UAV-derived multispectral data. Results showed that UAV-derived data could accurately predict yield with R2 ranging from 0.80 - 0.95, RMSE ranging from 0.03 - 0.94 kg/m2 and RRMSE ranging from 2.21% - 39.91% based on the spectral datasets combined. Results of this study further revealed that the VT-R1 (56-63 days after emergence) vegetative growth stage was the most optimal stage for the early prediction of maize grain yield (R2 = 0.85, RMSE = 0.1, RRMSE = 5.08%) and proportional yield (R2 = 0.92, RMSE = 0.06, RRMSE = 17.56%), with the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Enhanced Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (ENDVI), Soil Adjusted Vegetation Index (SAVI) and the red edge band being the most optimal prediction variables. The grain yield models produced more accurate results in estimating maize yield when compared to the biomass and proportional yield models. The results demonstrate the value of UAV-derived data in predicting maize yield on smallholder farms – a previously challenging task with coarse spatial resolution satellite sensors.

Suggested Citation

  • Sibanda, M. & Buthelezi, S. & Mutanga, O. & Odindi, J. & Clulow, A. D. & Chimonyo, V. G. P. & Gokool, S. & Naiken, V. & Magidi, J. & Mabhaudhi, Tafadzwanashe, 2023. "Exploring the prospects of UAV-remotely sensed data in estimating productivity of maize crops in typical smallholder farms of Southern Africa," Papers published in Journals (Open Access), International Water Management Institute, pages -1/1-2023:1.
    • Handle: RePEc:iwt:jounls:h052490
    DOI: 10.5194/isprs-annals-X-1-W1-2023-1143-2023
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ken E. Giller & Thomas Delaune & João Vasco Silva & Mark Wijk & James Hammond & Katrien Descheemaeker & Gerrie Ven & Antonius G. T. Schut & Godfrey Taulya & Regis Chikowo & Jens A. Andersson, 2021. "Small farms and development in sub-Saharan Africa: Farming for food, for income or for lack of better options?," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 13(6), pages 1431-1454, December.
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