Determination of chlorophyll photosynthetic potential in vegetation using ground-based and satellite methods

Potential productivity of agricultural crops can be evaluated using a new method based on chlorophyll photosynthetic potential (CPSP) derived from satellite information. The chlorophyll photosynthetic potential is determined by the amount of light absorbed by the plants in the region of the red band of chlorophyll absorption in a definite growth period. The value of parameter CPSP is determined as the area of the triangle whose vertex coordinates are exoatmospheric reflectance in the green, red, and near infrared bands and the respective mean wavelengths of bands. CPSPs of the crops have been examined using medium and high spatial resolution satellite (MODIS/Terra and Landsat7 ETM+) data obtained during the growing season of the plants. CPSP and crop productivity have been found to be interrelated. The obtained satellite evaluations are in good agreement with the ground-truth observation data.