Mapping Paddy Fields Using Satellite Images and Machine Learning to Identify High Temperature-Induced Sterility in Nankoku, Japan

High temperature-induced rice sterility has become a major issue in Japan; thus, the conditions influencing this sterility must be better understood to identify effective countermeasures. In this study, a random forest-based sterility estimation model was developed using the sterility rate measured...

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Main Authors: Naoyuki Hashimoto, Haruki Yamada, Shiho Matsuoka
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:AgriEngineering
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2624-7402/7/4/122
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author Naoyuki Hashimoto
Haruki Yamada
Shiho Matsuoka
author_facet Naoyuki Hashimoto
Haruki Yamada
Shiho Matsuoka
author_sort Naoyuki Hashimoto
collection DOAJ
description High temperature-induced rice sterility has become a major issue in Japan; thus, the conditions influencing this sterility must be better understood to identify effective countermeasures. In this study, a random forest-based sterility estimation model was developed using the sterility rate measured via a field survey and satellite images. Applying this model to Nankoku, Japan, we attempted to map fields based on their sterility rates and visualize the spatial distribution of sterility. The results showed that the rate of change in reflectance from the heading stage until an effective accumulated temperature of 350 °C was reached was an effective model variable. Applying this model to map fields where rice sterility occurred from 2022 to 2024 revealed that more than 41% of the fields in Nankoku may have been damaged, suggesting that many fields might be at risk of adverse effects from high temperatures. The 3-year average sterility rate revealed areas with a high concentration of paddies with a low sterility rate, suggesting that investigating the environment and cultivation management techniques in these areas could provide insights to reduce the sterility rate. Moreover, the growth process up to the heading stage may contribute to the increase in the sterility rate. In the future, we plan to conduct a longitudinal survey based on the generated map to further investigate the relationships between cropping type, cultivar, and weather conditions to develop countermeasures.
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spelling doaj-art-dfee3856519f4811a4dcbbda77a35ff82025-08-20T03:14:19ZengMDPI AGAgriEngineering2624-74022025-04-017412210.3390/agriengineering7040122Mapping Paddy Fields Using Satellite Images and Machine Learning to Identify High Temperature-Induced Sterility in Nankoku, JapanNaoyuki Hashimoto0Haruki Yamada1Shiho Matsuoka2Faculty of Agriculture and Marine Science, Kochi University, Nankoku 783-8502, JapanFaculty of Agriculture and Marine Science, Kochi University, Nankoku 783-8502, JapanFaculty of Agriculture and Marine Science, Kochi University, Nankoku 783-8502, JapanHigh temperature-induced rice sterility has become a major issue in Japan; thus, the conditions influencing this sterility must be better understood to identify effective countermeasures. In this study, a random forest-based sterility estimation model was developed using the sterility rate measured via a field survey and satellite images. Applying this model to Nankoku, Japan, we attempted to map fields based on their sterility rates and visualize the spatial distribution of sterility. The results showed that the rate of change in reflectance from the heading stage until an effective accumulated temperature of 350 °C was reached was an effective model variable. Applying this model to map fields where rice sterility occurred from 2022 to 2024 revealed that more than 41% of the fields in Nankoku may have been damaged, suggesting that many fields might be at risk of adverse effects from high temperatures. The 3-year average sterility rate revealed areas with a high concentration of paddies with a low sterility rate, suggesting that investigating the environment and cultivation management techniques in these areas could provide insights to reduce the sterility rate. Moreover, the growth process up to the heading stage may contribute to the increase in the sterility rate. In the future, we plan to conduct a longitudinal survey based on the generated map to further investigate the relationships between cropping type, cultivar, and weather conditions to develop countermeasures.https://www.mdpi.com/2624-7402/7/4/122heat stressoptical remote sensingpaddy fieldrandom foreststerility rate
spellingShingle Naoyuki Hashimoto
Haruki Yamada
Shiho Matsuoka
Mapping Paddy Fields Using Satellite Images and Machine Learning to Identify High Temperature-Induced Sterility in Nankoku, Japan
AgriEngineering
heat stress
optical remote sensing
paddy field
random forest
sterility rate
title Mapping Paddy Fields Using Satellite Images and Machine Learning to Identify High Temperature-Induced Sterility in Nankoku, Japan
title_full Mapping Paddy Fields Using Satellite Images and Machine Learning to Identify High Temperature-Induced Sterility in Nankoku, Japan
title_fullStr Mapping Paddy Fields Using Satellite Images and Machine Learning to Identify High Temperature-Induced Sterility in Nankoku, Japan
title_full_unstemmed Mapping Paddy Fields Using Satellite Images and Machine Learning to Identify High Temperature-Induced Sterility in Nankoku, Japan
title_short Mapping Paddy Fields Using Satellite Images and Machine Learning to Identify High Temperature-Induced Sterility in Nankoku, Japan
title_sort mapping paddy fields using satellite images and machine learning to identify high temperature induced sterility in nankoku japan
topic heat stress
optical remote sensing
paddy field
random forest
sterility rate
url https://www.mdpi.com/2624-7402/7/4/122
work_keys_str_mv AT naoyukihashimoto mappingpaddyfieldsusingsatelliteimagesandmachinelearningtoidentifyhightemperatureinducedsterilityinnankokujapan
AT harukiyamada mappingpaddyfieldsusingsatelliteimagesandmachinelearningtoidentifyhightemperatureinducedsterilityinnankokujapan
AT shihomatsuoka mappingpaddyfieldsusingsatelliteimagesandmachinelearningtoidentifyhightemperatureinducedsterilityinnankokujapan