Abstract
The use of satellites to monitor crops and support their management is gathering increasing attention. The improved temporal, spatial, and spectral resolution of the European Space Agency (ESA) launched Sentinel-2 A + B twin platform is paving the way to their popularization in precision agriculture. Besides the Sentinel-2 A + B constellation technical features the open-access nature of the information they generate, and the available support software are a significant improvement for agricultural monitoring. This paper was motivated by the challenges faced by researchers and agrarian institutions entering this field; it aims to frame remote sensing principles and Sentinel-2 applications in agriculture. Thus, we reviewed the features and uses of Sentinel-2 in precision agriculture, including abiotic and biotic stress detection, and agricultural management. We also compared the panoply of satellites currently in use for land remote sensing that are relevant for agriculture to the Sentinel-2 A + B constellation features. Contrasted with previous satellite image systems, the Sentinel-2 A + B twin platform has dramatically increased the capabilities for agricultural monitoring and crop management worldwide. Regarding crop stress monitoring, Sentinel-2 capacities for abiotic and biotic stresses detection represent a great step forward in many ways though not without its limitations; therefore, combinations of field data and different remote sensing techniques may still be needed. We conclude that Sentinel-2 has a wide range of useful applications in agriculture, yet still with room for further improvements. Current and future ways that Sentinel-2 can be utilized are also discussed.
Highlights
In current and future climate scenarios the resilience and productivity of agricultural systems will be increasingly jeopardized [1]
We present an updated review of scientific literature on Sentinel-2 applications and advancements in precision agriculture
Following Homolová et al [27], on the matching of ecological, agricultural, and remote sensing scales, we currently find that on the basis of individual plants, plant communities, and agroecosystems, different remote sensing technologies may provide coverage across canopy and landscape scales
Summary
In current and future climate scenarios the resilience and productivity of agricultural systems will be increasingly jeopardized [1]. Population growth trends, expected to reach 8.7 billion by 2030 and 9.7 billion by 2050 [2], will further strain food production systems worldwide, which so far have not been able to keep pace [3]. Within this changing context, crops face a threefold obstacle: management-derived challenges as well as increased pressure from abiotic and biotic stressors. The application of all available advanced technologies towards managing crop variability and maintaining or improving yields and reducing negative impacts on environmental quality, namely advancements in precision agriculture [4], is central to approaching these issues.
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