PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - P. H. Gowda
AU  - B. J. Dalzell
AU  - D. J. Mulla
AU  - F. Kollman
TI  - Mapping tillage practices with landstat thematic mapper based logistic regression models
DP  - 2001 Apr 01
TA  - Journal of Soil and Water Conservation
PG  - 91--96
VI  - 56
IP  - 2
4099  - http://www.jswconline.org/content/56/2/91.short
4100  - http://www.jswconline.org/content/56/2/91.full
AB  - Tillage information is crucial in environmental modeling as it has a direct impact on sediment delivery, phosphorus loss, and water holding capacity of agricultural soils. Remote sensing techniques can provide information about tillage practices over large areas. In this study, six Thematic Mapper (TM)-based logistic regression models proposed by van Deventer et al. (1997) were used to distinguish conventional and conservation tillage practices in the Lower Minnesota River watershed located in southern Minnesota. Accuracy assessments of tillage maps derived from Landsat TM data were made using field data collected by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Regression models were easy to use, cost and time effective, and produced reasonably accurate tillage maps. The percentage correct and kappa (k) values varied from 42–77% and 0.03–0.51, respectively, with best values for logistic regression models that use TM band 5 or the difference between TM band 3 and 5 images. This approach is promising for the rapid collection of tillage information on individual fields over large areas.