Success StoryNDVI Can Be Wrong



NDVI Can Be Wrong

Author: John Grove

Planning Unit: Plant and Soil Sciences

Major Program: Grains

Outcome: Initial Outcome

In 2022 I gave a presentation where I showed that sensor Normalized Difference Vegetative Index (NDVI) values could result in an erroneous diagnosis of the causal nutrient deficiency. In early September of 2023 I was contacted by Darrin Malone, certified crop advisor/marketing specialist with AMVAC Corp. Mr. Malone had received a photo of one of my slides and was interested in a succinct explanation of the point. When I explained that the NDVI sensor sensed canopy color and extent, but could not distinguish amongst any nutrient deficiency (nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur) that could cause either color or extent to be insufficient without ground-truthing, he immediately understood the agronomy behind my position. He no longer recommends NDVI sensing for nutrient deficiency diagnosis/fertilizer recommendation without independent corroboration by plant tissue analysis.






Stories by John Grove


NDVI Can Be Wrong

about 2 months ago by John Grove

In 2022 I gave a presentation where I showed that sensor Normalized Difference Vegetative Index (NDV... Read More


Assisting Producer: Corn Problem(s) Diagnosis and Recommendation

about 2 months ago by John Grove

In early July 2023 Chelsea Sapp asked me to visit several corn fields in southern Marion County. I m... Read More


Stories by Plant and Soil Sciences


Reorganizing the Kentucky Beginning Grazing School

about 2 months ago by Christopher Teutsch

The Kentucky Beginning Grazing School was established in 1996. This two-day workshop provides new li... Read More


Securing Kentucky’s Livestock

about 2 months ago by Christopher Teutsch

Implementing improved grazing management requires high quality fencing. Working with the Kentucky Fo... Read More


Stories by Grains


Kentucky-Tennessee Grain Day

Kentucky-Tennessee Grain Day

about 2 months ago by Traci Johnson

Grain production is an important source of farm income in Todd County. Todd County ranks 7th in Kent... Read More


Grain Rescue Tubes

Grain Rescue Tubes

about 8 months ago by Brandon Sears

Grain storage bins have been in use since their invention by Illinois farmer Fred Hatch who is thoug... Read More