UK-DMC 2 satellite data for deriving biophysical parameters of oil palm trees in Malaysia

The leaf area index (LAI) and fraction of Photosynthetically Active Radiation (fPAR) are key biophysical variables to estimate gross/net primary productivity of ecosystems which in turn can be used to identify their role in the global carbon cycle and climate change. This is the first study to estimate LAI and fPAR of oil palm ecosystem in Malaysia using remote sensing techniques. An empirical model relating radiance from band 1 (near infra red) of UK-DMC 2 remotely sensed data and LAI computed from hemispherical photos (oil palm LAI= -0.156 × radiance of band 1+16.95, R²=0.78) was developed m tins study. The model was then used to scale up LAI from plot to region (southern part of Peninsular Malaysia). Validation of the estimated LAI against LAI computed from hemispherical photos (independent samples) shows a good relationship (R²= 0.85 and RMSE= 0.52 m² m^-2). From the estimated LAI, fPAR was computed. LAI and fPAR derived in this study were compared against MOD15A (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer sensor onboard Terra satellite) LAI/fPAR product. It was found that LAI and fPAR from UK-DMC 2 and MODIS match well with R²= 0.70 and 0.66 for fPAR and LAI respectively.