Canopy Equivalent Water Thickness Estimation of Cotton Based on Hyperspectral Index

【Objective】 The objective of the experiments is to develop a key method for fast and nondestructive monitoring canopy equivalent water thickness (CEWT) in cotton (Lumian 54) and to further improve the estimation accuracy of CEWT in cotton monitored by remote sensing technology. 【Method】 Through setting irrigation gradient treatment in different growth period, canopy spectral reflectance and canopy equivalent water thickness and other information were measured simultaneously. Firstly, we comprehensively analyzed the correlation between CEWT and various spectral parameters, including original spectral reflectance, first derivative spectral reflectance, all-band combined spectral index and existing spectral index. Then, we determined the optimal spectral indices of bud stage, flowering and bolls stage, and full growth period. Finally, we constructed a hyperspectral monitoring model of cotton CEWT by linear regression. 【Result】 The canopy equivalent water thickness and the original spectral reflectance show continuous sensitive bands in the near infrared band (NIR) of 780-1130 nm and the short wave infrared band (SWIR) of 1 450-1 830 nm and 1 950-2 450 nm, the sensitivity of the first derivative spectrum to CEWT was enhanced in NIR band than that of the original spectrum, but was weaker in SWIR band than that of the original spectrum. The correlation between the spectral index constructed by the original spectral reflectance and CEWT is stronger than that of the first derivative spectrum, and the ratio spectral index (RSI) is more suitable for the monitoring of CEWT than the normalized difference spectral index (NDSI). During the whole growth period, the inversion accuracy of CEWT by (R₁₁₃₅-5R₁₄₉₄)/R₂₀₀₃ was the best (R ²=0.7878, RRMSE=0.1803). In the bud stage, RSI_b(1130,1996) has the best estimation effect on CEWT (R ²=0.7258, RRMSE=0.1444). RSI_a (904,1952) was the optimal spectral index (R ²=0.7853, RRMSE=0.2454) for estimating CEWT at the flowering and bolls stage.【Conclusion】The new hyperspectral indexes proposed in this study in different growth stages can be used for quantitative monitoring of canopy equivalent water thickness in cotton. The results of this study can provide reference for the application of hyperspectral technology in monitoring water content of cotton canopy, and provide technical basis for precision irrigation of cotton.