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2003 ARC Projects

Remote Sensing Identification of Soil Carbon in the Intermountain West

Gathering Data
Chod Stephens		 Chod Stephens is leading “Remote Sensing Identification of Soil Carbon in the Intermountain West” at two study sites: one in Logan, Utah and one in Arbon Valley, Idaho. Soil organic carbon (SOC) has recently been the subject of considerable research due to the measured increase of CO2 content in the atmosphere and the potential carbon sequestering and storage available in agricultural soils. Not only does carbon sequestration in soil have the potential to reduce greenhouse gasses, it also increases soil quality and the sustainability of soil fertility. Historically, the method for ascertaining organic carbon in soil has been to: (1) collect soil samples using a grid, (2) analyze total carbon combustion, and (3) extrapolate the information to the landscape using geostatistical, mathematical interpolation and graphical procedures. Grid samples, however, are labor intensive and may not yield an optimal spatial representation SOC variability. The goal of this study is to assess the feasibility of using remote sensing to estimate soil carbon in the Intermountain West. The project will include examination soil moisture effects on the accuracy of soil carbon estimation using remote sensing.

 

 

Using Remotely Sensed Imagery to Improve Grain Yield and Quality in Irrigated Wheat

Researchers
Dennis Wright		 “Using Remotely Sensed Imagery to Improve Grain Yield and Quality in Irrigated Wheat” is led by Dennis Wright with collaboration from the Hans Hayden and Duane Grant of the Idaho Wheat Commission. The ARC team are examining wheat quality benefits of a midseason nitrogen application in hard red spring wheat with the use of remote sensing. A center pivot is being monitored throughout the season with both satellite and aerial imagery and on the ground with plant tissue samples and a spectroradiometer (350-2500 nm). A second application of nitrogen has been applied through the pivot to half of the plots at the flowering stage of wheat growth. The effect of a late season application of nitrogen on nitrogen stressed plants should have significant impact on the protein and therefore monetary value of the crop. In addition to the increased selling price, the decreased fertilizer inputs due to selective site-specific nitrogen management will decrease negative environmental impacts.

 

 

Characterizing Historic Trends of Semi-arid and Montane Environments Using Multiple Remote Sensing Platforms

Chris McGinty		 Leading “Characterizing Historic Trends of Semi-arid and Montane Environments Using Multiple Remote Sensing Platforms,” Chris McGinty is evaluating two study sites, Deseret Land and Livestock near Evanston, Wyoming, and Northwestern Box Elder County, Utah. Multiple remote sensing platforms are available to facilitate knowledge about the landscape, at a reduced cost, that will aid in decision support systems that effect land management protocol and monitoring. Using current and historic remotely sensed data, it is possible to observe and provide multiple forms of information, in detail, on land cover issues. Historically, vegetation and land cover trends have been analyzed using conventional line-transect methods to observe changes in land cover over time. These methods limit information collected to single sites and may not provide a sound statistical inference across landscapes. In addition, line sampling is extremely cost and time intensive. This project will incorporate data generated by the ASTER, MODIS, and Landsat satellite sensors to identify short and long term change, net primary productivity, and identification of disturbances such as fire, climate, and invasive plants on semi-arid and montane environments.