Steven Davey BS, Earth Systems Science, The University of Michigan, 2011 Mentor: Shawn Kefauver Faculty Advisor:

Dr. Susan Ustin 7-26-2011

Leaf Area Index(LAI) is defined as the ratio of total upper leaf surface of vegetation divided by surface area of the land over which the vegetation grows(unitless measure) Values of this index typically range from 0 to 6

http://www.gardenwithinsight.com/help100/00000424.htm

Input parameter in determining and modifying crop coefficient values and hence improving evapotranspiration estimates Penman-Monteith Equation Want to find LAI relationship with other indices via analysis of remote sensing data and ground data

Source: Google Earth

Remote sensing of vegetation properties: an Orchard Water Stress experiment in the San Joaquin Valley (ROWS)

Utilized wide angle lens to create hemispherical, wide angle image in fish-eye photography to view plant canopy Photographs were analyzed in Hemi View program through adjustment of threshold value Can then calculate LAI for different plots

Fish eye picture without threshold-BE 001

Fish eye picture after threshold done-BE 001

LAI for the pistachios less than 1 LAI for almonds between 1 and 2 Differences in field spacing and maturity of the plants are likely factors explaining contrast in LAI

NDVI=(NIR-R)/(NIR+R) SAVI is related to NDVI, but with correction factor L to adjust for soil brightness with low vegetative cover SAVI=((NIR-R)*(1+L))/(NIR+R+L) Will assume L=0.1 for San Joaquin region, which is an appropriate value for western U.S. as mentioned by Allen et al. 2007

One could determine vegetation indices from MASTER image and LandSat image Also calculated ARVI, EVI, and Sum Green Index Used band math to find SAVI for LandSat images for February 8, April 29, May 31, and July 2

Normalized Difference Vegetation Index(NDVI)

NDVI vs. LAI for almond and Pistachio orchards during late June 2011

0.9 0.8 0.7 0.6 0.5 0.4 0.3 0.2 0.1 0 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.8 2 y = 0.1715x + 0.4344 R = 0.7559

Leaf Area Index(LAI)

SAVI vs. LAI for late June, 2011

0.7

Soil Adjusted Vegetation Index(SAVI)

0.6 0.5 0.4 0.3 0.2 0.1 0

y = 0.2164x + 0.2417 R = 0.91403

0.2

0.4

0.6

Leaf Area Index(LAI)

0.8

1.2

1.4

1.6

1.8

Unless land is fully vegetated, soil background will influence vegetation indices NDVI is only accurate in highly vegetated areas with minimal soil cover In this plot, soil space is intentionally accommodated between plants to allow almonds to dry

Rearrangement of variables gives LAI = (SAVI-0.2417)/0.2164 Other research found linear relationships in agricultural lands between LAI and SAVI(at low LAI values) Paper by Allen found logarithmic relationship between SAVI and LAI, which is close to linear at SAVI values of 0.3-0.6

3.5 3

LAI vs. SAVI using natural log function

LAI(Leaf Area Index)

2.5 2 1.5 1 0.5 0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.65

-0.5

SAVI(Soil Adjusted Vegetation Index)

Chose to apply LAI relationship imaged from LandSat images to all 11 blocks and find average LAI for young and mature pistachios and almonds for February, April, May, and July

1.6

LAI vs. time in days for pistachios in 2011

Average Leaf Area Index(LAI)

1.4 1.2 1

0.8 0.6 0.4 0.2 0

young pistachios mature pistachios

39

119

151

183

2011 Julian Day

LAI vs. time in days for almonds in 2011

1.8

Average Leaf Area Index(LAI)

1.6 1.4 1.2 1 young almonds mature almonds

0.8 0.6 0.4 0.2 0

39

119

151

183

2011 Julian Day

For young almond trees, the period of maximum leaf growth is in early spring In trees, especially mature ones, most new cell growth ceases in late spring Slight LAI decline in summer due to bending of branches as a result of the weight of fruit

Evapotranspiration increases with increasing temperature and LAI Even though LAI doesnt increase into the summer, evapotranspiration increases in July due to increasing temperature

2011 temperature series at Belridge site

Average monthly temperature(C)
30 25 20 15 10 5 0

February

months in 2011 (July values given as average through Jul 18)

March

April

May

June

July

LAI was best correlated with SAVI compared to its relationship with other indices Intentionally exposed soil background for drying almonds, and full vegetative cover doesnt occur until LAI values of 3.0 or greater LAI can be imaged with a time series created utilizing satellite and ground data

Would like to compare LAI time series with crop coefficient time series to determine relationship between these variables Can also use temperature time series and LAI time series to understand relationships between evapotranspiration and LAI These relationships can then be used to improve actual evapotranspiration estimates

Dr. Susan Ustin Shawn Kefauver Daniel Kurzweil Joshua Young All other members of the Land team To all mentors and faculty who have helped to coordinate the SARP program

Allen et. al. FAO Irrigation and Drainage paper 56. Crop Evapotranspiration-Guidelines for Computing Crop Water Requirements. 1998. Allen, Richard G., Tasumi, Masahiro, and Trezza, Ricardo. Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering. Satellite-Based Energy Balance for Mapping Evapotranspiration with Internalized Calibration(Metric)-Model, p. 380-395. August 1, 2007. Jackson, Ray D. and Huete, Alfredo R. Preventative Veterinary Medicine, 11. Interpreting Vegetation Indices, p. 185-200. Elsevier Science Publishers, B.V., Amsterdam. 1991. Micke, Warren C. Almond Production Manual. University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Publication 3364. 1996. Rangeland Assessment and Monitoring Methods Guide. Soil Adjusted Vegetation Index. http://abstracts.rangelandmethods.org/doku.php/remote_sensing_methods:soiladjusted_vegetation_index Sumner, David., and Jacobs, Jennifer M. Journal of Hydrology. Utility of PenmanMonteith, Priestley-Taylor, reference evapotranspiration, and pan evaporation methods to estimate pasture evapotranspiration, p. 81-104. 2005. Turner et. al. REMOTE SENSING ENVIRON: 70. Relationship Between Leaf Area Index and Landsat TM Spectral Vegetation Indices across Three Temperate Zone Sites, p. 52-68. Elsevier Science Inc., New York 1999.

These plots fitted with a simple linear model indicate that SAVI correlates with LAI better than NDVI does with a correlation coefficient near 1 (r2=0.914)

Can utilize linear LAI vs. SAVI relationship for early July and apply relationship to other parts of the year using LandSat images from February, April, and May

Evapotranspiration increases into July because of temperature dependency Sunlight energy has gone into fruit budding and not leaf development in late spring and into the summer months