Can you tell me how remote sensing can be used in agriculture?

Answer 1

Remote sensing in agriculture serves the primary function of providing information to increase profits. The main way this is accomplished is by reducing the input materials such as fertilizer and pesticide - by extension reducing cost.

Vegetation indices use near-infrared bands to determine vegetation health. Infrared light is reflected by the chlorophyll in plants, the pigment that plays a key role photosynthesis. When using a near-infrared sensor (NIR), more productive plants will have a stronger reflectance. So, NIR can be used to locate areas affected by drought, pests, flooding, etc.

When it comes to reducing costs, it's a matter of having to spray an entire field to prevent a certain fungus, or only 10% of that field being affected.