The aims of this study were to assess utility of RapidEye imagery for predicting leaf nitrogen concentration and evaluate the effects of forest fragmentation on leaf nitrogen distribution in the Dukuduku forest, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa. RapidEye and WorldView-2 images were acquired for the study area. Leaf nitrogen concentration was accurately (R2 = 0.52, p < 0.05) estimated using the MERIS terrestrial vegetation index (MTCI) derived from the RapidEye image. Land cover types were accurately classified (overall accuracy = 85%) using WorldView-2 imagery. Differences in leaf nitrogen concentration between land cover types were then analysed. Remnant forest patches showed higher leaf nitrogen than grassland patches in the degraded landscape. In conclusion, foliar nitrogen can be mapped at peak productivity using RapidEye sensor. Forest fragmentation significantly affects leaf nitrogen concentration.
Reference:
Cho, M.A, Ramoelo, A, Mutanga, O, Van Deventer, H, Debba, P and Mathieu, R. 2012. Relevance of new multispectral imagery for assessing tropical forest disturbance: RapidEye and WorldView-2. In: 9th International Conference of the African Association of Remote Sensing and the Environment, El Jadida, Morocco, 29 October-2 November 2012
Cho, M. A., Ramoelo, A., Mutanga, O., Van Deventer, H., Debba, P., & Mathieu, R. S. (2012). Relevance of new multispectral imagery for assessing tropical forest disturbance: RapidEye and WorldView-2. AARSE. http://hdl.handle.net/10204/6727
Cho, Moses A, Abel Ramoelo, O Mutanga, Heidi Van Deventer, Pravesh Debba, and Renaud SA Mathieu. "Relevance of new multispectral imagery for assessing tropical forest disturbance: RapidEye and WorldView-2." (2012): http://hdl.handle.net/10204/6727
Cho MA, Ramoelo A, Mutanga O, Van Deventer H, Debba P, Mathieu RS, Relevance of new multispectral imagery for assessing tropical forest disturbance: RapidEye and WorldView-2; AARSE; 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/10204/6727 .