4.7 Article

Regional Monitoring of Fall Armyworm (FAW) Using Early Warning Systems

Journal

REMOTE SENSING
Volume 14, Issue 19, Pages -

Publisher

MDPI
DOI: 10.3390/rs14195003

Keywords

maize; fall armyworm; Spodoptera fugipedra; remote sensing; Google Earth Engine; Sentinel 2; planet; sustainable development goals; Africa

Funding

  1. Food and Agriculture of United Nations (FAO)
  2. Ramon y Cajal research fellowship from the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovacion, Spain [RYC-2019-027818-I]
  3. COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology) [CA17134 SENSECO]

Ask authors/readers for more resources

This study developed and tested a monitoring algorithm based on satellite data to detect the loss of green leaf biomass caused by the fall armyworm during maize vegetative growth. The algorithm was validated using mobile app data and field validation campaigns. The study suggests that satellite monitoring of small-scale farmer fields using NDVI anomaly analysis is possible.
The second United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG2), zero hunger, aims to improve the productivity, food security, nutrition, and sustainability of small-scale farmers. The fall armyworm (FAW, Spodoptera frugiperda) has been devasting to smallholder farmer food security since it spread to sub-Saharan Africa in 2016, who have suffered massive crop losses, particularly maize, an important staple for basic sustenance. Since the FAW mainly devours green leaf biomass during the maize vegetative growth stage, the implementation of remote sensing technologies offers opportunities for monitoring the FAW. Here, we developed and tested a Sentinel 2 a+b satellite-based monitoring algorithm based on optimized first-derivative NDVI time series analysis using Google Earth Engine. For validation, we first employed the FAO Fall Armyworm Monitoring and Early Warning System (FAMEWS) mobile app data from Kenya, and then subsequently conducted field validation campaigns in Zimbabwe, Kenya, and Tanzania. Additionally, we directly observed loss of green biomass during maize vegetative growth stages caused by the FAW, confirming the observed signals of loss of the leaf area index (LAI) and the total green biomass (via the NDVI). Preliminary analyses suggested that satellite monitoring of small-scale farmer fields at the regional level may be possible with an NDVI first-derivative time series anomaly analysis using ESA Sentinel 2 a+b (R-2 = 0.81). Commercial nanosatellite constellations, such as PlanetScope, were also explored, which may offer benefits from greater spatial resolution and return interval frequency. Due to other confounding factors, such as clouds, intercropping, weeds, abiotic stresses, or even other biotic pests (e.g., locusts), validation results were mixed. Still, maize biomass anomaly detection for monitoring the FAW using satellite data could help confirm the presence of the FAW with the help of expanded field-based monitoring through the FAO FAMEWS app.

Authors

I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.

Reviews

Primary Rating

4.7
Not enough ratings

Secondary Ratings

Novelty
-
Significance
-
Scientific rigor
-
Rate this paper

Recommended

No Data Available
No Data Available