Search NASASearch

Engineering topics

Heilman, J. L.

Publications and source records attributed to Heilman, J. L..

21 records · Page 2

Evaluating soil moisture and yield of winter wheat in the Great Plains using Landsat data

Locating areas where soil moisture is limiting to crop growth is important for estimating winter-wheat yields on a regional basis. In the 1975-76 growing season, we evaluated soil-moisture conditions and winter-wheat yields for a five-state region of the Great Plains using Landsat estimates of leaf area index (LAI) and an evapotranspiration (ET) model described by Kanemasu et al (1977). Because LAI was used as an input, the ET model responded to changes in crop growth. Estimated soil-water depletions were high for the Nebraska Panhandle, southwestern Kansas, southeastern Colorado, and the Texas Panhandle. Estimated yields in five-state region ranged from 1.0 to 2.9 metric ton/ha.

Heilman, J. L.

Crop identification using ERTS imagery

Digital analysis of August 15 ERTS-I imagery for southeastern South Dakota was performed to determine the feasibility of conducting crop surveys from satellites. Selected areas of bands 4, 5, 6, and 7 positive transparencies were converted to digital form utilizing Signal Analysis and Dissemination Equipment (SADE). The optical transmission values were printed out in a spatial format. Visual analysis of the printouts indicated that cultivated areas were readily distinguished from non-cultivated areas in all four bands. Bare soil was easily recognized in all four bands. Corn and soybeans, the two major crops in the area, were treated as separate classes rather than as a single class called row crops. Bands 6 and 7 provided good results in distinguishing between corn and soybeans.

Horton, M. L.