Grantee Research Project Results
A Remote Sensing Approach To Understand Controls on Cropland Productivity
EPA Grant Number: FP916416Title: A Remote Sensing Approach To Understand Controls on Cropland Productivity
Investigators: Lobell, David
Institution: Stanford University
EPA Project Officer: Lee, Sonja
Project Period: January 1, 2004 through December 31, 2004
Project Amount: $111,344
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2004) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Fellowship - Terrestrial Ecology , Academic Fellowships , Ecological Indicators/Assessment/Restoration
Objective:
The objectives of this project are to: (1) develop and test techniques to measure crop yields with remote sensing; and (2) use these yield estimates to aid in the implementation of practices leading to reduced environmental impacts and higher yields.
Approach:
Crop yield estimates will be derived by constraining light-use efficiency crop growth models with multidate satellite imagery. Uncertainties will be assessed using both stochastic simulation and field evaluation approaches. These estimates then will be used for three applications: (1) assessing the impact of soil-climate interactions on crop yields, which is difficult to do with the limited sample sizes of field measurements; (2) quantifying the relative importance of soil and management constraints at the regional scale, utilizing GIS databases and pattern analysis techniques; and (3) working with farmers to incorporate yield images into their management decisions. This study will focus on regions in northwest Mexico and the Southwest United States, although the developed techniques should be broadly applicable.
Supplemental Keywords:
Supplemental Keywords: fellowship, crop yields, cropland productivity, remote sensing, satellite image, satellite imagery, soil-climate interactions, soil management, scale, management decisions, Mexico, Southwest United States,, RFA, Scientific Discipline, Ecosystem Protection/Environmental Exposure & Risk, RESEARCH, Monitoring/Modeling, Monitoring, Environmental Monitoring, Ecology and Ecosystems, data modeling, remote sensing, ecosystem management model, cropland production, agrobiodiversity, crop growth modelsRelevant Websites:
2004 STAR Graduate Fellowship Conference Poster (PDF, 1p., 174KB, about PDF)
Progress and Final Reports:
The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.