Remote sensing and precision agriculture technologies for crop disease detection and management with a practical application example

Authors: Yang, Chenghai

Submitted to: Engineering
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/17/2019
Publication Date: 6/16/2020
Citation: Yang, C. 2020. Remote sensing and precision agriculture technologies for crop disease detection and management with a practical application example. Engineering. 6:528-532. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eng.2019.10.015.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eng.2019.10.015

Interpretive Summary: Remote sensing is widely used to detect and map crop diseases. Imagery obtained during the growing season is used for both within-season management and future growing season management of reoccurring diseases such as soil-borne fungi. Remote sensing and precision agriculture technologies that are being used for crop disease detection and management are reviewed and discussed with a focus on airborne and high resolution satellite imagery and variable rate technology. These technologies are used to detect and map the cotton root rot disease in cotton fields and provide site-specific fungicide applications using prescription maps derived from the imagery for effective control of the disease. The overview and methodologies presented in this article will provide researchers, crop consultants, growers, and agricultural dealers with practical guidelines for remote sensing detection and site-specific management of similar crop diseases.

Technical Abstract: Remote sensing has been widely used to detect and map crop diseases over the years. Early detection is important, but by the time disease symptoms can be detected on remote sensing imagery, damage could have already been done to the crop. For some diseases, this may be early enough to take control measures to minimize the damage; for others, it may be too late to correct the problem within the season. Remote sensing imagery obtained during the growing season has potential not only for within-season management, but also for the management of reoccurring diseases, such as soilborne fungi, in future growing seasons. With variable rate technology in precision agriculture, fungicide can be applied to infested areas if the disease is stable, though traditional uniform application may be more appropriate for diseases that can spread quickly across the field. This article provides a brief overview of remote sensing and precision agriculture technologies that have been used for crop disease detection and management. Specifically, the article illustrates how airborne and high resolution satellite imagery and variable rate technology have been used to detect and map the cotton root rot disease in cotton fields and how site-specific fungicide application has been implemented using prescription maps derived from the imagery for effective control of the disease. The overview and methodologies presented in this article should provide researchers, crop consultants, growers, and agricultural dealers with practical guidelines for remote sensing detection and site-specific management of similar crop diseases.