Agriculture (...contd.)

Tasks:
  1. Needs Assessments - Initial needs and baseline assessments have been conducted already to identify the projects listed below (Tasks 2-6) as high priority efforts. New needs assessments will be initiated to continue and refine focus groups and listening sessions throughout the agricultural sectors of Mississippi. Participants in the listening sessions have been identified by the MSU-ES in conjunction with state commodity associations (e.g., MS Soybean Association, MS Cattlemen’s Association, MS Forestry Association) and statewide agricultural organizations (e.g., MS Farm Bureau, Delta Council). A list, with justifications, will be developed for high-priority needs; these needs will be evaluated based on the potential for remote sensing to address observability. Economic assessments will be integral to this phase of the research.
  1. Plant Nutrition - Small-plot and producer field core research projects will be continued and enhanced to determine nitrogen and potassium fertility needs that can be measured through remote sensing. Hyperspectral images will be correlated with tissue nitrogen and potassium concentrations. Spatial variability detected with bare soil spectral images will be correlated with soil chemical, physical, and biological properties. Site-specific variable rate fertilizer recommendations will be developed from experimental plot measurements, remote sensing, and ground-truthing activities (verification of remotely sensed information with ground-based measurements).
  1. Plant Growth Regulation - Small-plot and producer field research will be conducted to measure cotton growth rates, height, etc., and relate to aerial hyperspectral and/or LIDAR images. Ground-truth measurements will be collected and image features will be extracted to relate plant growth rates and height to these images in the most accurate manner.
  1. Weed Detection - Small-plot and producer field research will be conducted to develop spectral response patterns of different weed species, develop spatial and spectral resolution requirements, and determine population and growth thresholds observable. Spectral responses will be developed for the significant row-crop weeds in Mississippi. Small-plot research will establish specific densities of weeds to determine spectral characteristics and populations detectable through an aerial platform. Hyperspectral images will be collected throughout the growing season on producer fields, and weed populations will be mapped for ground-truthing.
  1. Insect Monitoring - Producer fields will be monitored for insect pressure, and remote sensing images will be correlated with insect population dynamics. Plant stress symptomology detectable through remote sensing will be related to insect populations, and remote sensing images will also be used to direct insect sampling strategies and insecticide applications.
  1. Stress Monitoring - Producer fields already monitored heavily in the MSU-ES- SMART program will be observed via remote sensing, and any stresses determined through ground-based scouting will be correlated to remote images to determine observable phenomena. Scouting records will include fertility needs, weed, insect, and disease pressure, and moisture deficiencies or waterlogged soils. Yield monitoring data will also be collected and related to remotely sensed images and GIS data layers.

Deliverables:

  1. A report on the observability of nitrogen and potassium stress in cotton by remote sensing; baseline and metrics will be established
  2. A soils data set on features that can be detected by remote sensing.
  3. A library of spectral responses of key weeds in Mississippi row crops.
  4. Further refinement of agricultural needs that can be addressed via remote sensing.
  5. Prioritization of specific research projects that can best address these needs.
  6. Assessment of the potential for detection of phenomena that can be observed via remote sensing, and that have prospects for commercialization.
  7. A report on results from focus groups and listening sessions outlining critical needs in agriculture that can be addressed through remote sensing.
  8. A report on the economic potential of remote sensing applications in agriculture.
  9. Critical reviews of research projects before initiation, during progress, and after completion.
  10. Movement of most-promising core research projects with commercial potential to field validation and verification research stage.

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