A Special Vegetation Index for the Weed Detection in Sensor Based Precision Agriculture

Many technologies in precision agriculture (PA) require image analysis and image- processing with weed and background differentiations. The detection of weeds on mulched cropland is one important image-processing task for sensor based precision herbicide applications. The article introduces a special vegetation index, the Difference Index with Red Threshold (DIRT), for the weed detection on mulched croplands. Experimental investigations in weed detection on mulched areas point out that the DIRT performs better than the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI). The result of the evaluation with four different decision criteria indicate, that the new DIRT gives the highest reliability in weed/background differentiation on mulched areas. While using the same spectral bands (infrared and red) as the NDVI, the new DIRT is more suitable for weed detection than the other vegetation indices and requires only a small amount of additional calculation power. The new vegetation index DIRT was tested on mulched areas during automatic ratings with a special weed camera system. The test results compare the new DIRT and three other decision criteria: the difference between infrared and red intensity (Diff), the soil-adjusted quotient between infrared and red intensity (Quotient) and the NDVI. The decision criteria were compared with the definition of a worse case decision quality parameter Q, suitable for mulched croplands. Although this new index DIRT needs further testing, the index seems to be a good decision criterion for the weed detection on mulched areas and should also be useful for other image processing applications in precision agriculture. The weed detection hardware and the PC program for the weed image processing were developed with funds from the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF).     

Assessment Of Trampling Simulation Impacts On Native Vegetation In Mediterranean Sclerophyllous Forest

This study examines the effects of visitors on vegetation of natural semi-arid areas of Mediterranean basin using controlled experimental trampling. Impacts were assessed on days 1, 5, 15 and 30 examining presence of plant species, their cover and height in linear transects suffering a constant trampling intensity (25, 75, 100 and 200 passes/day). In addition, the study included the analysis of factors such as plant species, trampling intensity, the cumulative impact (day effect) and the type of footwear on plant variables. The results showed a decrease on plant cover and height influenced by cumulative (day) effect, an effect of trampling intensity and a different effect for each species. In contrast, shoe type affected only slightly the decrease in plant height. The evolution of plant cover revealed which species were most resistant to trampling. The disappearance of plant individuals during trampling appeared to be an impact index better than plant cover, because cover increased in some species when they were trampled thus introducing a bias.     

Field Surveys of Ozone Symptoms on Spontaneous Vegetation. Limitations and Potentialities of the European Programme

Within the European intensive forest monitoring programme, the native vegetation on permanent Level II plots has been monitored for visible ozone injuries. The main purpose of the programme is to assess the potential risks for the forest vegetation and the natural ecosystems at the intensive monitoring plots. During the first years of the programme the surveys were qualitative, reporting only the number and the name of the symptomatic species in selected Light Exposed Sampling Site. In 2003 a new plot design was tested, based on the distribution of a number of miniplots along the edge of the forest, so as to obtain quantitative findings about the occurrence and distribution of the symptoms. The problems that still persist are related to: (i) the forest edge assessed for ozone symptoms may have a different floristic composition from the Level II plot itself; (ii) the anthropic pressure and the disturbances affecting the forest edge alters the floristic composition; (iii) the variability of the plant composition in the forest edge, which makes comparability difficult between different sites; and (iv) the evaluation of symptoms in several species that have not yet been experimentally tested. Further difficulties are due to the fact that symptoms observed in the field are often aspecific and cannot, therefore, be attributed solely to the phytotoxic action of ozone. To improve the effectiveness of the European programme, it is necessary: (i) to individualise and select common sensitive plant species for homogeneous ecological regions; (ii) to enhance experimental activities to test the sensitivity of a large number of plant species.     

唐家河保护区主要植被类型景观格局的梯度分析

在遥感图像基础上,利用GIS技术从景观指数方面定量分析了唐家河自然保护区主要植被类型在东西、南北和西北至东南3个方向上的梯度变化。结果表明：次生落叶阔叶林、常绿落叶阔叶混交林、针阔叶混交林与针叶林的梯度变化明显,并且在各方向上具有不同的变化特征。其中,常绿落叶阔叶混交林从西北至东南方向的梯度变化最为复杂, 斑块数量与面积分别呈“升-降-升-降”与“升-降-升”的波动变化趋势,而边界密度与平均最近距离呈先升后降的变化趋势,两端破碎度高但连接性好,中部相反。针叶林从北至南的梯度变化最为简单,斑块面积减少,破碎度与复杂度降低,南北两端分布较多,中部较少。唐家河自然保护区植被景观格局在不同方向上的梯度变化研究为地震后该地区的植被保护与管理提供重要指导意义。     

Vegetation of the Northern Russian Far East in geographic information systems

The cartographic method, in combination with computer technologies and special software, was used to develop a series of projects of geographic information systems (GISs), including regional GISs (RGISs) for three administrative regions (Magadan oblast, Chukchi Autonomous Area, and Koryak Autonomous Area) and the territorial GIS Vegetation of the Northern Russian Far East.     

Remote sensing of aquatic vegetation: theory and applications

Aquatic vegetation is an important component of wetland and coastal ecosystems, playing a key role in the ecological functions of these environments. Surveys of macrophyte communities are commonly hindered by logistic problems, and remote sensing represents a powerful alternative, allowing comprehensive assessment and monitoring. Also, many vegetation characteristics can be estimated from reflectance measurements, such as species composition, vegetation structure, biomass, and plant physiological parameters. However, proper use of these methods requires an understanding of the physical processes behind the interaction between electromagnetic radiation and vegetation, and remote sensing of aquatic plants have some particular difficulties that have to be properly addressed in order to obtain successful results. The present paper reviews the theoretical background and possible applications of remote sensing techniques to the study of aquatic vegetation.     

筑坝蓄水过程对高原湿地拉市海湖滨植被的影响

选择滇西北高原湿地拉市海湿地湖滨作为研究区域,采用传统的野外植被调查和定位观测相结合的方法对该区域植被特征、分布格局及受筑坝蓄水过程的影响进行分析和研究。结果表明：研究区共有维管束植物97种,隶属于34科76属,可划分为2个植被类型,3个植被亚型,10个群落类型;拉市海筑坝蓄水过程对研究区植物群落分布格局和组成结构产生明显的影响,草甸植被、沼泽植被和湖泊水生植被占研究区面积比重分别从2009年的4454%、1869%和3676%变为2011年的3259%、1368%和5359%,草甸植被和沼泽植被的面积不断缩小,湖泊水生植被面积持续扩大,狗牙根〖WTBX〗（Cynodon dactylon）逐渐取代蒿属（Artemisia）〖WTBZ〗植物在草甸植被中的优势地位,而李氏禾群落（Com.Leersia hexandra）成为了研究区湖滨带水生植物的主要成分;研究区植被在筑坝蓄水过程的胁迫下呈草甸植被（杂草群落、狗牙根群落Com.Cynodon dactylon）,沼泽植被（葱状灯心草群落Com.Juncus allioides、菖蒲群落Com.Acorus calamus、刚毛荸荠群落Com.Eleocharis vallcculosa、水蓼群落Com.Polygonum hydropiper）,湖泊水生植被（李氏禾群落Com.Leersia hexandra、两栖蓼群落Com.Polygonum amphibium、满江红群落Com.Azolla imbricata、鸭子草 穗状狐尾藻群落Com.Potamogeton distinctus Myriophyllum spicatum）的演替格局;拉市海植物群落受筑坝蓄水过程影响发生的逆向演替,从理论上延长了湿地的服务年限,但蓄水过程对鱼类的生存和繁殖、越冬水禽的生境及整个湿地生态系统结构和功能的影响是长期的,还有待深入的研究     

基于ETM影像的植被指数在土地利用中的特征——以雅安市雨城区为例

利用LandSAT7号卫星的ETM数据、土地利用现状数据，在GIS空间分析工具与ERDAS空间建模语言的支持下，提取ETM影像的RVI、NDVI和MSAVI等3类植被指数，在ArcGIS中应用样带统计分析工具，统计并分析3类植被指数在各土地利用类型中的分布与特征。结果表明：RVI与NDVI、MSAVI在各土地利用中的特征相似，都能较好的反映土地利用类型的覆盖程度，但各植被指数的表现形式有异，即RVI值高的，NDVI、MSAVI值较低，代表的植被覆盖度也较低，反之亦然；3类植被指数能较好的区分出农田用地、非植被覆盖区、植被覆盖区，而林地与灌木林、早地与园地则不易区分。     

气候变化对青藏高原腹地可持续发展的影响

受全球变暖影响，青藏高原气候呈现出暖干化趋势。气温升高，降水量减少对高原腹地植被生长具有消极意义，导致该区牧草质量和数量的下降。人口和牲畜数量的增加，更加重了资源环境与经济（牧业经济）发展的对立。本文对受气候和人为因素共同作用下，青藏高原腹地高寒草地逆行演替的原因及方式进行了分析。在些基础上，对气候暖干化模式下可持续的利用高寒草地资源提出了建议。     

近40年气候变化对江西自然植被净第一性生产力的影响

根据全球气候变化的趋势,采用植被净第一性生产力模型,对江西省南昌、吉安、赣州3地近40年气候变化对自然植被净第一性生产力（NPP）的影响进行研究,并模拟了3地自然植被NPP在未来气候3种水热条件下的变化趋势。此外还以1980年江西全省自然植被NPP为例分析了自然植被NPP的区域分布特征,结果表明：3地近40年自然植被NPP平均值分别为1319 、1311和1320 t/hm2〖DK1〗·a,总体上都呈上升的趋势。 当年均气温增加2℃且降水量增加20%时,NPP值增加了149%~1585%;随着年均气温增加2℃且降水量减少20%,NPP减少了477%~516%;当年均气温增加2℃且降水量不变时,NPP增加了530%~569%。江西自然植被NPP区域分布特征由东、南、西3个方向向北呈放射状分布,随着地形由高山向丘陵、平原的方向变化而减小。