Limitations of Landsat TM data in monitoring growth and predicting yields in sugar cane

The potential use in the sugar industry for remotely sensed data was outlined by Lee-Lovick and Kirchner (1990). The landsat 5 satellite with its thematic mapper (TM) scanner passes over Queensland every 16 days and collect reflectance data from six spectral bands on a 30 x 30 m grid. Information is collected from large areas, with the potential for giving an overall view of cane development of whole regions. Visual differences in reflectance observed during photographic interpretation of data suggested that remote sensing can provide information on crop condition. The usefulness of these data for monitoring sugarcane crop growth, health and yield are summarised in this paper.