Spectral discrimination and mapping of waterlogged cereal crops in Western Australia

Abstract Abstract. A study was conducted in Western Australia to determine whether remotely-sensed spectral data can be used to detect and map areas in cereal crops where growth has been affected by waterlogging, Spectral discrimination was established between waterlogged and non-waterlogged crop using either 13-band airborne MSS data or Landsat-TM data. Near infrared and thermal channels were found to be important in providing the observed discrimination. Classification procedures incorporating measures of confidence of class membership were applied, and produced classification maps which agreed closely with ground information, It is concluded that timely Landsal-TM data, together with ground calibration information, can be used for mapping and monitoring waterlogged cereal crops.