Monitoring conservation tillage practices using Landsat multispectral data

Abstract

Manual interpretation of film products acquired by satellite remote sensing was used to estimate the land area under dryland grain production and to monitor the land area and spread of conservation tillage practices over a 5-year period in the central coast region of California. Using 35mm positive transparency enlargements projected onto and registered with a mapping base, the area of conventionally tilled and conservation-tilled land was correctly mapped with an overall classification accuracy of 80.8%. Due to variable cultivation practices and inadequate satellite coverage over certain areas, however, the commission error for mapping the conservation tillage area was 71 %. With improved satellite data acquisitions and proper training, this satellite-based system could be adopted for mapping and monitoring lands under conventional and conservation tillage practices.