Being able to measure residue cover from satellite imagery is a long-term challenge that’s still a work in progress, but researchers are making headway.
Improving remote sensing protocols for conservation tracking and planning has been a long-time focus for Brian Gelder and a team of scientists he’s working with at Iowa State University and the USDA Agricultural Research Service. Gelder, manager of research in Iowa State’s Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, worked with his team on developing remote sensing protocols to accurately identify the level of residue cover resulting from conservation tillage, a conservation practice important to reduce soil erosion and improve water quality.
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