Recently, Lin et al. [18] proposed a method to map sugarcane growth and estimate sugarcane leaf area index (LAI) by using the ratio of ASAR HV to HH data (C-band). The results sellekchem showed that C-band SAR data are very promising for monitoring sugarcane growth. A first study on the potential of TerraSAR data for monitoring sugarcane crops on Reunion Island was carried out by Baghdadi et al. [17]. Harvested fields were easily detected on ASAR images if the SAR acquisition was close to harvest date. The limited database in X-band (only two images) did not allow for analysis of the potential of X-band for monitoring sugarcane crop growth and for mapping harvested fields. Inhibitors,Modulators,Libraries From the TerraSAR images studied, results showed good correlation between radar signal and cane heights between 0 and approximately 100 cm at 53�� (HH polarization).

This study examined the relationship between TerraSAR signal and sugarcane height as a function of instrumental parameters (polarization and incidence), and precipitation. In addition, the potential of TerraSAR-X for mapping harvested sugarcane Inhibitors,Modulators,Libraries crop was studied. The correlation between radar signal and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) extracted from SPOT images was also analyzed.2.?Study Area and Data Used2.1. Study AreaThe study site covers a sugarcane farm located in the south of Reunion Island, close Inhibitors,Modulators,Libraries the town of Saint Pierre (latitude: 21��19�� S – longitude: 55��31�� E; Figure 1). Inhibitors,Modulators,Libraries The study site is composed mainly of agricultural fields intended for growing sugarcane with soil composed of 50% clay, 30% silt, and 20% sand [23].

Fifteen sugarcane fields of an average size of 9 ha were studied: 2, 3, 4, 5, 61, 62, 121, 122, 123, 15, 16, 18, 191, 192, 20. These training fields extend on 4.5 km Drug_discovery approximately, between 100 m to 500 m altitude. TerraSAR-X and SPOT images were acquired over our study site. The images belong to the KALIDEOS database set up by the CNES (French Space Agency) [24,25].Figure 1.A false color composite of a SPOT-5 image acquired over the study site in Reunion Island on October 21, 2008 (Red: band-3; Green: band-2; Blue: band-1). Reference sugarcane fields are outlined in blue. ���� indicates the location …2.2. TerraSAR DateSixty-four TerraSAR-X images (X-band ~ 9.65 GHz) were acquired between the 14th of December 2008 and the 20th of January 2010 with different incidence angles (17��, 31��, 37��, 47�� and 59��), and in mono- and dual-polarization modes (HH, VV, HH/VV, HH/HV, VH/VV). The imaging modes used were Spotlight and Stripmap. The pixel spacing selleckchem of TerraSAR images was between 1 and 3 m. Characteristics of TerraSAR images used in this study are summarized in Table 1.Table 1.Main characteristics of TerraSAR-X images used in this study.