Remote Sensing and GIS Based Spectro-Agrometeorological Maize Yield Forecast Model for South Tigray Zone, Ethiopia

Abstract

Remote-sensing data acquired by satellite imageries have a wide scope in agricultural applications owing to their synoptic and repetitive coverage. This study reports the development of an operational spectro-agrometereological yield model for maize crop derived from time series data of SPOT VEGETATION, actual and potential evapotranspiration and rainfall estimate satellite data for the years 2003-2012. Indices of these input data were utilized to validate their strength in explaining grain yield recorded by the Central Statistical Agency through correlation analyses. Crop masking at crop land area was applied and refined using agro-ecological zones suitable for maize. Rainfall estimates and average Normalized Difference Vegetation Index were found highly correlated to maize yield with the former accounting for 85% variation and the latter 80%, respectively. The developed spectro-agrometeorological yield model was successfully validated against the predicted Zone level yields estimated by Central Statistical Agency (r 2 = 0.88, RMSE = 1.405 q · ha -1 and 21% coefficient of variation). Thus, remote sensing and geographical information system based maize yield forecast improved quality and timelines of the data besides distinguishing yield production levels/areas and making intervention very easy for the decision makers thereby proving the clear potential of spectro-agrometeorological factors for maize yield forecasting, particularly for Ethiopia.