Fusion of Sentinel-2 Phenology Metrics and Saturation-Resistant Vegetation Indices for Improved Correlation with Maize Yield Maps

To authors’ knowledge, no previous studies thoroughly focused on determining the single optimal combination of vegetation index and phenology metric for maize yield assessment based on ground truth yield map from combine harvester. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to evaluate correlat...

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Main Authors: Dorijan Radočaj, Ivan Plaščak, Mladen Jurišić
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Agronomy
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/15/6/1329
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author Dorijan Radočaj
Ivan Plaščak
Mladen Jurišić
author_facet Dorijan Radočaj
Ivan Plaščak
Mladen Jurišić
author_sort Dorijan Radočaj
collection DOAJ
description To authors’ knowledge, no previous studies thoroughly focused on determining the single optimal combination of vegetation index and phenology metric for maize yield assessment based on ground truth yield map from combine harvester. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to evaluate correlation between all combinations of eight vegetation indices and seven phenology metrics with maize yield. A specific focus was put on evaluating saturation-resistant vegetation indices and utilizing Sentinel-2 images, including novel vegetation indices such as Inverted Difference Vegetation Index (IDVI), Three Red-Edge Vegetation Index (NDVI<sub>3RE</sub>) and Plant Phenology Index (PPI). Twelve parcels located in Eastern Croatia were observed during 2022 and 2023, with a total area of ground truth data of 67.61 ha. The analysis of vegetation indices and phenology metrics indicated varying strengths of correlation with maize yield, with the combination of NDVI<sub>3RE</sub> and Senescence producing the highest Pearson correlation coefficient (0.506). However, the relationship of optimal combination of vegetation index and phenology metric with maize yield based on combined dataset which included parcels 1–12 on individual parcels varied notably and is likely indicative of interannual weather variations. Overall, the reduced saturation effect in red-edge-based index suggests that it may be more suitable for maize yield prediction.
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spelling doaj-art-bcc9482063d940ad8283bd87f6ec05182025-08-20T03:24:29ZengMDPI AGAgronomy2073-43952025-05-01156132910.3390/agronomy15061329Fusion of Sentinel-2 Phenology Metrics and Saturation-Resistant Vegetation Indices for Improved Correlation with Maize Yield MapsDorijan Radočaj0Ivan Plaščak1Mladen Jurišić2Faculty of Agrobiotechnical Sciences Osijek, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Vladimira Preloga 1, 31000 Osijek, CroatiaFaculty of Agrobiotechnical Sciences Osijek, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Vladimira Preloga 1, 31000 Osijek, CroatiaFaculty of Agrobiotechnical Sciences Osijek, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Vladimira Preloga 1, 31000 Osijek, CroatiaTo authors’ knowledge, no previous studies thoroughly focused on determining the single optimal combination of vegetation index and phenology metric for maize yield assessment based on ground truth yield map from combine harvester. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to evaluate correlation between all combinations of eight vegetation indices and seven phenology metrics with maize yield. A specific focus was put on evaluating saturation-resistant vegetation indices and utilizing Sentinel-2 images, including novel vegetation indices such as Inverted Difference Vegetation Index (IDVI), Three Red-Edge Vegetation Index (NDVI<sub>3RE</sub>) and Plant Phenology Index (PPI). Twelve parcels located in Eastern Croatia were observed during 2022 and 2023, with a total area of ground truth data of 67.61 ha. The analysis of vegetation indices and phenology metrics indicated varying strengths of correlation with maize yield, with the combination of NDVI<sub>3RE</sub> and Senescence producing the highest Pearson correlation coefficient (0.506). However, the relationship of optimal combination of vegetation index and phenology metric with maize yield based on combined dataset which included parcels 1–12 on individual parcels varied notably and is likely indicative of interannual weather variations. Overall, the reduced saturation effect in red-edge-based index suggests that it may be more suitable for maize yield prediction.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/15/6/1329combine harvesterThree Red-Edge Vegetation Indexsenescencephenology analysis
spellingShingle Dorijan Radočaj
Ivan Plaščak
Mladen Jurišić
Fusion of Sentinel-2 Phenology Metrics and Saturation-Resistant Vegetation Indices for Improved Correlation with Maize Yield Maps
Agronomy
combine harvester
Three Red-Edge Vegetation Index
senescence
phenology analysis
title Fusion of Sentinel-2 Phenology Metrics and Saturation-Resistant Vegetation Indices for Improved Correlation with Maize Yield Maps
title_full Fusion of Sentinel-2 Phenology Metrics and Saturation-Resistant Vegetation Indices for Improved Correlation with Maize Yield Maps
title_fullStr Fusion of Sentinel-2 Phenology Metrics and Saturation-Resistant Vegetation Indices for Improved Correlation with Maize Yield Maps
title_full_unstemmed Fusion of Sentinel-2 Phenology Metrics and Saturation-Resistant Vegetation Indices for Improved Correlation with Maize Yield Maps
title_short Fusion of Sentinel-2 Phenology Metrics and Saturation-Resistant Vegetation Indices for Improved Correlation with Maize Yield Maps
title_sort fusion of sentinel 2 phenology metrics and saturation resistant vegetation indices for improved correlation with maize yield maps
topic combine harvester
Three Red-Edge Vegetation Index
senescence
phenology analysis
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/15/6/1329
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