Summary
This study assessed the utility of Sentinel-1 synthetic aperture radar satellite data for monitoring field trafficability—the ability of soil to support agricultural machinery without compaction—by examining relationships between surface soil moisture and subsurface penetration resistance. Using extensive in situ measurements across multiple crops over two years, the authors identified soil moisture thresholds (≥0.19 cm³ cm⁻³) at which surface and subsurface moisture values correspond reliably, though decoupled conditions may show twofold differences. The high temporal resolution of Sentinel-1 enables practical trafficability monitoring, though crop maturity and root growth significantly influence penetration resistance variability.
UK applicability
The methodology is directly applicable to UK agricultural contexts, where clay and heavy soils are prevalent and machinery-induced compaction is a persistent concern. The approach could support UK farm management practices and potentially inform future precision agriculture policy, though local validation with UK soil types and cropping patterns would be advisable.
Key measures
Soil moisture (cm³ cm⁻³), penetration resistance (measured in situ), Sentinel-1 satellite imagery, temporal variability of soil properties across crop types
Outcomes reported
The study evaluated the feasibility of Sentinel-1 satellite-derived surface soil moisture for monitoring agricultural field trafficability over 2016–2017. It established coupled conditions when surface soil moisture reliably indicates subsurface values and developed probabilistic relationships between soil moisture and penetration resistance as a trafficability indicator.
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