*NASA Earth Observatory image created by Robert Simmon and Jesse Allen, using Landsat data provided by the United States Geological Survey. Caption by Aries Keck and Michael Carlowicz. NASA and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) jointly manage Landsat, and the USGS preserves a 40-year archive of Landsat images that is freely available data over the Internet.
Satellite sensors have the most recent qualitative leap in the ability to determine the types of plants grown and the yields produced in any geographical area. They also provide accurate information on the area of agricultural fields, thus estimating the amount of water required for irrigation and the expected crop yield. Space technologies have also enabled the identification of dry or infected agricultural areas, which has helped to avoid fires or crop loss. Space science has provided a lot of information that has contributed to the protection and development of the agricultural sector in various regions on the planet.
Some of the important areas of Satellite Remote Sensing applications related to agriculture are:
- Estimating of crop area and crop yield
- Monitoring crop health and growth
- Analyzing land suitability for crops, fish ponds and livestock
- Managing farm water and fertilizer
- Monitoring and protecting plants against diseases
Images above, from *NASA earth observatory, show the evolution of agricultural operations in the Wadi As-Sirhan Basin (KSA), as viewed by satellites in 1991, 2000, and 2012.