Vegetation index (NDVI) - what is it and why is it so important?
 

The Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) is an extremely important tool for farmers to monitor yields and detect problems related to water shortages or plant diseases. With data from satellite Earth observation, farmers can get a quick and accurate picture of the state of vegetation on their crops.
 

NDVI makes it possible to determine which crops are in good condition and which need immediate intervention. This allows farmers to manage their crops more effectively, optimizing fertilization, irrigation and taking appropriate preventive measures. In this article, we will discuss how the NDVI index works, what information it allows to obtain and what benefits it can bring to farmers.

What is the NDVI vegetation index, what information does it provide, and what are the benefits for farmers?
 

The Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) is a tool that allows you to determine the state of vegetation in a field. It is one of the most important and widely used indexes, which is used by farmers to monitor and forecast yields and detect problems related to water shortages or plant diseases.
 

NDVI is based on data from satellite observation of the Earth. The index value is determined by the difference between NIR (Near Infrared) wavelength visible light and diffuse wavelength visible light. Plants absorb a lot of NIR light and scatter little visible light to determine their health.

With NDVI, farmers can get a quick and accurate picture of the state of vegetation on their crops. This allows them to determine which plants are in good condition and which need immediate intervention. This allows farmers to manage their crops more effectively, optimizing fertilization, irrigation and taking appropriate preventive measures.
 

The benefits of using the NDVI index are primarily:

• Yield monitoring and forecasting: The NDVI allows for ongoing monitoring of the condition of vegetation on crops, which allows for forecasting future yields. This allows farmers to better plan their operations and prepare for potential shortages.
   
• Detecting water shortage and crop disease problems: NDVI allows quick detection of problems related to water shortages or plant diseases. This allows farmers to react quickly and take appropriate corrective action.
   
• Optimize fertilization and irrigation: NDVI allows you to determine which plants need more fertilizer or water. This allows farmers to better manage their resources and avoid waste.
   
• Preventive actions: NDVI allows for early detection of problems so that appropriate preventive measures can be taken. This allows farmers to minimize the risk of losses and increase their profits.
   
• Saving time and money: NDVI allows for real-time monitoring of the condition of vegetation without having to move around the field. This allows farmers to save time and money that they could have spent on other activities.
   

How the NDVI index works
 

To understand how the NDVI index works, it is necessary to know what data is used and what parameters are taken into account.

The NDVI index is based on data from satellite observation of the Earth. Satellites take images of the Earth's surface in different wavelengths of light. Two of these are particularly important for NDVI: visible light at scattered wavelengths (VIS) and visible light at Near Infrared (NIR) wavelengths.
 

Plants absorb a lot of NIR light and scatter little visible light. Therefore, the more NIR light is absorbed by plants, the more chlorophyll is present, and thus plants are more healthy. In contrast, the less NIR light is absorbed, the less chlorophyll is present, and plants are less healthy.

The NDVI index value is determined by the difference between visible light at the NIR wavelength and visible light at the diffuse wavelength. The mathematical formula for NDVI is as follows:

NDVI = (NIR - VIS) / (NIR + VIS)
 

NDVI index values range from -1 to 1. Values close to 1 mean that vegetation is very healthy, values close to 0 mean that vegetation is poor, and negative values mean no vegetation.

Farmers can interpret the NDVI index results to determine which areas of crops are best and which need attention.

Examples of application in different types of crops
 

If you are a farmer and want to improve your yields and increase your profits, then we encourage you to try the NDVI module in the Meteotrack Agro application. This module allows you to monitor the state of vegetation in your crop fields in real time, allowing you to forecast yields and detect problems related to water shortages or plant diseases.
 

Don't wait, sign up for our app today and see how much you can benefit from using the NDVI index. Don't delay, use it today and start improving your yields and increasing your profits!