Comparative Evaluation of the Multispectral Platforms Sentinel-2, CBERS-04A, and UAV for Nitrogen Detection in Maize Crops

Multispectral images provide valuable indicators of crop nutritional status, playing a key role in strategies to reduce fertilizer use and enable supplementary applications in cases of nitrogen deficiency, thereby ensuring productivity and profitability for farmers. However, the diversity of remote...

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Main Authors: Heloisa Gomes, Gustavo Ferreira da Silva, Juliano Carlos Calonego, Jéssica Pigatto de Queiroz Barcelos, Vicente Marcio Cornago Junior, Fernando Ferrari Putti
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-06-01
Series:AgriEngineering
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2624-7402/7/7/201
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author Heloisa Gomes
Gustavo Ferreira da Silva
Juliano Carlos Calonego
Jéssica Pigatto de Queiroz Barcelos
Vicente Marcio Cornago Junior
Fernando Ferrari Putti
author_facet Heloisa Gomes
Gustavo Ferreira da Silva
Juliano Carlos Calonego
Jéssica Pigatto de Queiroz Barcelos
Vicente Marcio Cornago Junior
Fernando Ferrari Putti
author_sort Heloisa Gomes
collection DOAJ
description Multispectral images provide valuable indicators of crop nutritional status, playing a key role in strategies to reduce fertilizer use and enable supplementary applications in cases of nitrogen deficiency, thereby ensuring productivity and profitability for farmers. However, the diversity of remote sensing platforms (RSPs) makes the choice challenging, as there are few comparative studies. This study compares the remote sensing platforms Sentinel-2, CBERS-04A, and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), assessing their accuracy in detecting different nitrogen doses (NDs) throughout the maize crop cycle in Botucatu-SP, using 10 vegetation indices (VIs). Six NDs were tested (0, 36, 84, 132, 180, and 228 kg ha<sup>−1</sup> of nitrogen) in nine assessments during the crop cycle. The results showed that, at the V7 stage, the RSPs were effective in detecting the NDs in eight VIs. However, at the VT stage, only the Sentinel-2 and CBERS-04A satellites demonstrated effectiveness in six VIs. Despite the high correlation among the RSPs, the ability to distinguish the NDs varied depending on the vegetation index (VI) and phenological stage. These findings highlight the importance of selecting the appropriate VI and optimal timing, regardless of the chosen platform.
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spelling doaj-art-a28c52bf02614fc4a1a1bc995bf9c8ca2025-08-20T02:48:17ZengMDPI AGAgriEngineering2624-74022025-06-017720110.3390/agriengineering7070201Comparative Evaluation of the Multispectral Platforms Sentinel-2, CBERS-04A, and UAV for Nitrogen Detection in Maize CropsHeloisa Gomes0Gustavo Ferreira da Silva1Juliano Carlos Calonego2Jéssica Pigatto de Queiroz Barcelos3Vicente Marcio Cornago Junior4Fernando Ferrari Putti5Department of Rural Engineering and Socioeconomics, College of Agricultural Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu 18610-034, SP, BrazilDepartment of Biotechnology and Plant and Animal Production, Agricultural Sciences Center, Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar), Araras 13600-970, SP, BrazilDepartment of Crop Science, College of Agricultural Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu 18610-034, SP, BrazilDepartment of Agronomy, São Paulo Western University, Raposo Tavares Highway, km 572, Presidente Prudente 19067-175, SP, BrazilBotucatu College of Technology (FATEC), Botucatu 18606-851, SP, BrazilDepartment of Rural Engineering and Socioeconomics, College of Agricultural Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu 18610-034, SP, BrazilMultispectral images provide valuable indicators of crop nutritional status, playing a key role in strategies to reduce fertilizer use and enable supplementary applications in cases of nitrogen deficiency, thereby ensuring productivity and profitability for farmers. However, the diversity of remote sensing platforms (RSPs) makes the choice challenging, as there are few comparative studies. This study compares the remote sensing platforms Sentinel-2, CBERS-04A, and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), assessing their accuracy in detecting different nitrogen doses (NDs) throughout the maize crop cycle in Botucatu-SP, using 10 vegetation indices (VIs). Six NDs were tested (0, 36, 84, 132, 180, and 228 kg ha<sup>−1</sup> of nitrogen) in nine assessments during the crop cycle. The results showed that, at the V7 stage, the RSPs were effective in detecting the NDs in eight VIs. However, at the VT stage, only the Sentinel-2 and CBERS-04A satellites demonstrated effectiveness in six VIs. Despite the high correlation among the RSPs, the ability to distinguish the NDs varied depending on the vegetation index (VI) and phenological stage. These findings highlight the importance of selecting the appropriate VI and optimal timing, regardless of the chosen platform.https://www.mdpi.com/2624-7402/7/7/201multispectral satelliteUAVvegetation index
spellingShingle Heloisa Gomes
Gustavo Ferreira da Silva
Juliano Carlos Calonego
Jéssica Pigatto de Queiroz Barcelos
Vicente Marcio Cornago Junior
Fernando Ferrari Putti
Comparative Evaluation of the Multispectral Platforms Sentinel-2, CBERS-04A, and UAV for Nitrogen Detection in Maize Crops
AgriEngineering
multispectral satellite
UAV
vegetation index
title Comparative Evaluation of the Multispectral Platforms Sentinel-2, CBERS-04A, and UAV for Nitrogen Detection in Maize Crops
title_full Comparative Evaluation of the Multispectral Platforms Sentinel-2, CBERS-04A, and UAV for Nitrogen Detection in Maize Crops
title_fullStr Comparative Evaluation of the Multispectral Platforms Sentinel-2, CBERS-04A, and UAV for Nitrogen Detection in Maize Crops
title_full_unstemmed Comparative Evaluation of the Multispectral Platforms Sentinel-2, CBERS-04A, and UAV for Nitrogen Detection in Maize Crops
title_short Comparative Evaluation of the Multispectral Platforms Sentinel-2, CBERS-04A, and UAV for Nitrogen Detection in Maize Crops
title_sort comparative evaluation of the multispectral platforms sentinel 2 cbers 04a and uav for nitrogen detection in maize crops
topic multispectral satellite
UAV
vegetation index
url https://www.mdpi.com/2624-7402/7/7/201
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