Role of Polarimetric SAR data for discrimination/biophysical parameters of crops based on canopy architecture

Abstract. Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) sensors have great potential for a wide range of agricultural applications, owing to their capability of all-weather observation. It is particularly useful in tropical regions in Asia where most of the crops are grown in rainy season. The use of SAR images for the assessment of rice-planted area is in operational stage in Asian countries owing to its characteristic temporal signature however, applications of SAR images for the estimation of biophysical plant variables are challenging, especially for crop scattering and discrimination in case of other tropical crops. Canopy geometry and architecture mainly govern the interaction of microwave signal with the vegetation. In this study evaluation of C-band SAR data at different polarization combinations in linear as well as circular polarimetric imaging modes for rabi crops and other associated landuse has been attempted. Also understanding the scattering response of various crops based on canopy architecture was attempted. The scattering parameters were found to vary for planofiles and erectophiles, partitioning of scattering and absorption were determined.