Monitoring of crop rotation and weed infestation estimation using MODIS

This research was conducted to develop the method of weed infestation assessment in the predominantly wheat areas in Northern Kazakhstan. Standard classification procedures were not applicable to separate the weed population, therefore indirect methods were investigated. Multiyear land use inventory was used and the correlation between the number of sowing years in fallow-crop rotation and the weed population was determined. Historical and current MODIS reflectance data (band 2, 250 m resolution) was used for spring wheat classification and for delineation of fallow areas for the last years. According to the number of sowing years after fallow four classes as 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and others culture after fallow masks were created. Ground surveys were conducted to define the weed population in cereal fields for these classes. It was demonstrated that this approach was the perspective tool to estimate the weed infestation level for croplands in Northern Kazakhstan. The result of this research is important for grain production forecast