Time series potential assessment for biophysical characterization of orchards and crops in a mixed scenario with Sentinel-1A SAR data

Abstract

Potential of Sentinel-1A SAR data was assessed for the time-series analysis of orchard biophysical parameters and crop system. The study revealed characteristics variations in the backscatter coefficient with respect to time and polarization for age in VH polarization than in VV and ratio of VV/VH polarization showing discrimination of young orchard particularly in VV polarization. The parameter of the orchard (age, DBH, canopy radius and visual height) shows a promising relationship with backscatter coefficient. Out of several regression models, VV channel responds with a fair regression coefficient of 0.54, 0.52, 0.48 and 0.44 for height with rmse of 0.5, 1.3, 0.7 and 0.6 for age, DBH, canopy radius and visual height, respectively. Multiple regression coefficient of 0.61 was observed for January 2018 in VV polarization as best date for study. These empirical relationships have potential for the inverse backscatter modelling.