Evaluating maize (Zea mays L.) management practices implementing sensitivity analysis of vegetation indices

Authors: Flynn, Kyle; Smith, Douglas; Lee, Trey; MARTINEZ, DORIS - Bureau Of Land Management; MA, SHENGFANG - Oklahoma State University; ZHOU, YUTING - Oklahoma State University

Submitted to: Soil and Tillage Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/11/2024
Publication Date: 8/13/2024
Citation: Flynn, K.C., Smith, D.R., Lee, T.O., Martinez, D.L., Ma, S.R., Zhou, Y. 2024. Evaluating maize (Zea mays L.) management practices implementing sensitivity analysis of vegetation indices. Soil and Tillage Research. 244. 106266. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2024.106266.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2024.106266

Interpretive Summary: Conservation agriculture includes several management practices such as cover cropping, no-till, and alternative fertilization rates. Each of these practices can result in changes among agricultural productivity, sustainability for future farming, and protections for the environment. These management practices are important concepts that can be applied in the production of maize (Zea mays L., corn). The aim of this three-year study (2018-2020) was to compare maize health across two fields located in Riesel, TX under varying management approaches and climates. The first field utilized ‘business as usual’ operations characterized by the implementation of tillage, fertilization at a maximum rate (160 bu/ac), and no cover crops. While, the second field utilized ‘aspirational’ cultivation techniques categorized by no tillage, cover crops, and an alternative method for rate of fertilization. Each field was subject to satellite-based remote sensing. Indices were analyzed to determine the best index for measuring maize health. The best index was identified (EVI) and served as a proxy for maize health under the varying managements and climatic conditions. The results suggest improvements to maize health and long-term productivity are experienced over time when ‘aspirational’ managements are employed. These findings suggest factors such as improved soil health from implementation of no-till and cover crops contribute to field health, efficiencies, and resiliency across varying climates.

Technical Abstract: Conservation agriculture includes several management practices such as cover cropping, no-till, and alternative fertilization rates. Each of these practices can result in changes among agricultural productivity, sustainability for future farming, and protections for the environment. These management practices are important concepts that can be applied in the production of maize (Zea mays L., corn). The aim of this three-year study (2018-2020) was to compare maize health across two fields located in Riesel, TX under varying management approaches and climates. The first field utilized ‘business as usual’ operations characterized by the implementation of tillage, fertilization at a maximum rate (160 bu/ac), and no cover crops. While, the second field utilized ‘aspirational’ cultivation techniques categorized by no tillage, cover crops, and an alternative method for rate of fertilization. Each field was subject to satellite-based remote sensing methods incorporating vegetation indices (NDVI, EVI, and NDRE). Indices were subject to sensitivity analyses to determine the most sensitive index for maize under various managements and climates. The most sensitive index (EVI) served as a proxy for time series analysis for maize health under the varying managements and climatic conditions. The results suggest improvements to maize health are experienced over time when ‘aspirational’ managements are employed. Moreover, productivity comparisons considering amount of input (i.e. fertilizer) suggests an increase in efficiency each year by =1% for the aspirational management. These findings suggest factors such as improved soil health from implementation of no-till and cover crops contribute to field health, efficiencies, and resiliency across varying climates.