Abstract
Spectral features of plant species in the visible to SWIR (0.4–2.5 μm) region have been studied extensively, but scanty attention has been given to plant thermal infrared (TIR: 4–14 μm) properties. This paper presents preliminary results of a study that was conducted first time in India to measure radiance and emissivity properties of eight plant species in TIR spectral region in the field conditions using a FTIR (Fourier Transform Infrared) field spectroradiometer working in 4–14 μm at an agriculture experimental farm. Several spectral features in the emissivity spectra of plant species were observed that are probably related to the leaf chemical constituents, such as cellulose and xylan (hemicellulose) and structural aspects of leaf surface like abundance of trichomes and texture. Observations and results from the field measurements were supported by the laboratory measurements like biochemical analysis. These preliminary field emissivity measurements of leaves in TIR show that there is useful spectral information that may be detectable by field-based instrument. More detailed field and laboratory measurements are underway to explore this research theme.
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Acknowledgments
This study has been carried out under SAC R & D project titled “Sensor system studies for vegetation monitoring”. Authors wish to acknowledge Dr. R. R. Navalgund, former Director, SAC and Shri A. S. Kirankumar Director, SAC for their encouragement and guidance for this study. Authors thank Dr. R. P. Singh and Dr. V. N. Sridhar, Scientists, SAC for their support in planning and execution of the study. We also thank Dr. T. V. R. Murthy, Scientist, SAC for useful discussions on various concepts of plant physiology and biochemical analysis. Authors would like to thank Dr. Basudeb Bakshi, Principal, NVPAS for providing necessary support and guidance. We also thank Prof. A. M. Shekh, Vice Chancellor, AAU, Anand for his guidance and support to the field experiments at AAU. We thank Dr. Leena Abraham and Dr. Sushil Kajal of NVPAS for the biochemical analysis.
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Pandya, M.R., Shah, D.B., Trivedi, H.J. et al. Field Measurements of Plant Emissivity Spectra: An Experimental Study on Remote Sensing of Vegetation in the Thermal Infrared Region. J Indian Soc Remote Sens 41, 787–796 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12524-013-0283-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12524-013-0283-2