Argentina-San Antonio de Areco

Overview

The site is centered at the San Antonio de Areco county -Buenos Aires province- and encompasses an area of intense surveys and field measurements of ca. 20 x 20 km bounded by an extended area of 70 x 70 km with annual crop type observations. Operational activities started in 2010 and can be grouped as follows:

  1. Crop identification and Crop Area Estimation: Crop identification. We are testing several classification methods using optical images and RADAR images and its combination. During last campaign we continued obtaining data from the original JECAM/ SIGMA area as well as over a minimum dataset (MDS) area of 20 x 20 km with higher density collection. This small area matches with RADARSAT-2 Fine Quad Pol acquisitions during this campaign that we are collecting for the SAR intercomparrison experiment. We developed an intercomparisson of methodologies for cropland identification together with other JECAM/ SIGMA sites (China, Russiz, Ukraine, Brazil, and Belgium). We are moving from local to regional estimation of crop land and crop type. We are testing different sampling methodologies and different data sources together with other JECAM sites.
    For Growing Season 2018-2019 we expanded the on-road JECAM like surveys to all the agricultural area of Argentina (LINK).
  2. Characterization of Crop Rotations: From annual crop type maps along seven yars, Crop rotations maps were generated to analize the occurrence of monoculture and crop rotation. A manuscript was plublished in 2020.
  3. Soil Moisture: Analysis of its effects on RADAR signal.
  4. Yield Prediction and Forecasting: We are working in an intercomparisson study for yield estimation at coutry level with SIGMA/ JECAM partners from Russia, China, Ukraine, and Africa leaded by Alterra (Wageningen, The Netherlands). We are also working in the estimation of biophysical parameters at field level using optical and RADAR images.

Project Objectives

Mapping Agricultural Areas

Operational Implementation Plan

Crop identification. We are testing several classification methods using optical images and RADAR images and its combination. During last campaign we continued obtaining data from the original JECAM/ SIGMA area as well as over a minimum dataset (MDS) area of 20 x 20 km with higher density collection. This small area matches with RADARSAT-2 Fine Quad Pol acquisitions during this campaign that we are collecting for the SAR inter-comparison experiment. We developed an inter-comparison of methodologies for cropland identification together with other JECAM/ SIGMA sites (China, Russia, Ukraine, Brazil, and Belgium). We are moving from local to regional estimation of crop land and crop type. We are testing different sampling methodologies and different data sources together with other JECAM sites.

Scale

Forecasting Agricultural Variables

Operational Implementation Plan

Agricultural Variables (large scale)
  • Yield
  • Soil Moisture
  • Crop rotation

Site Description

Landscape TopographyGently slopes (lower than 3%)
Typical Field SizeAverage field size is ca. 20 ha. However plot size is very variable.
Climatic ZoneTemperate, cool
Major Crops and Calendars

Wheat (Early):
Calendar: June - October

Soybean (Early,Late):
Calendar: November - April
Typical Rotation: Soybean and Maize are mostly planted as one season crop

Maize (Early):
Calendar: December - April
Typical Rotation: Soybean and Maize are mostly planted as one season crop

Maize (Normal):
Calendar: October - March
Typical Rotation: Soybean and Maize are mostly planted as one season crop

Soybean (Late):
Calendar: December - April

Wheat (Late):
Calendar: August - January

Soil Type & Texture

Inorganic:

  • Silt Loam
  • Clay Loam
  • Silty Clay Loam
Soil Drainage Class
    Irrigation Infrastructure
      Other Site Details

      Mostly no till agriculture. Main rotation (three years): Maize, Soybean, Wheat/Soybean

      Soil classification: Mostly Mollisols

      In Situ Observations

      Crop Inventory

      • Crop Type(s): Soybean, Maize, Wheat
      • Collection Protocol:

        On road surveys were performed at least twice a year to identify winter and summer crops as well as fallows, pastures and grasslands. Surveys are performed over the JECAM/SIGMA area (100×100 Km) and with a higher collection density over MDS area (20×20 Km). Other in situ data sources are being collected in other areas of Argentina to expand the classification methodologies to other areas and get regional maps.

      • Frequency: Biannually

      EO Data

      Optical Data Requirements

    • Approximate Start Date of Acquisition: 01/07
    • Approximate End Date of Acquisition: 30/06
    • Spatial resolution: Medium resolution (20-60m)
    • temporal_frequency: Biweekly
    • Level of Expertise: Intermediate
    • Latency of Data Delivery: 2-5 days
    • Challanges:
    • SAR Data Requirements

    • Approximate Start Date of Acquisition: 01/07
    • Approximate End Date of Acquisition: 30/04
    • Spatial resolution: Low resolution (above 60m)Medium resolution (20-60m)High resolution (5-20m)
    • temporal_frequency: Biweekly
    • Frequency: XCL
    • Incidence Angle: Medium
    • Polarisation:
    • Level of Processing: Level 1
    • Orbit: Any
    • Level of Expertise: Advance
    • Latency of Data Delivery: 2-5 days
    • Challanges: We recommend the acquisition of series of images with a same configuration (incidence angel, polarization, etc.)
    • Passive Microwave Data Requirements

    • Approximate Start Date of Acquisition:
    • Approximate End Date of Acquisition:
    • Spatial resolution:
    • temporal_frequency: Biweekly
    • Level of Expertise: Intermediate
    • Latency of Data Delivery: 2-5 days
    • Challanges:
    • Thermal Data Requirements

    • Approximate Start Date of Acquisition:
    • Approximate End Date of Acquisition:
    • Spatial resolution:
    • temporal_frequency: Biweekly
    • Wavelength:IR 3-5µm
    • Level of Expertise: Intermediate
    • Latency of Data Delivery: 2-5 days
    • Challanges:
    • Results

      Documents and Files

      Poster-MNC.pdf mapa_nacional_de_cultivos_campana_2018_2019.pdf protocolo_relevamientos_MNC.pdf

      Links to paper

      de Abelleyra, D., Veron, S., Banchero, S., Mosciaro, M. J., Propato, T., Ferraina, A., … & Volante, J. (2020, March). First Large Extent and High Resolution Cropland and Crop Type Map of Argentina. In 2020 IEEE Latin American GRSS & ISPRS Remote Sensing Conference (LAGIRS) (pp. 392-396). IEEE. LINK
       
      de Abelleyra, D., & Verón, S. (2020). Crop rotations in the Rolling Pampas: Characterization, spatial pattern and its potential controls. Remote Sensing Applications: Society and Environment, 100320. LINK
       
      Dingle Robertson, L., Davidson, A., McNairn, H., Hosseini, M., Mitchell, S., De Abelleyra, D., Verón, S., & Cosh, M. H. (2020). Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) image processing for operational space-based agriculture mapping. International Journal of Remote Sensing, 41(18), 7112-7144. LINK

       
      de Abelleyra D, Banchero S, Verón S, Mosciaro J, Volante J. (2019). Mapa Nacional de Cultivos campaña 2018/2019. Collección 1. Versión 1. Informe. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA), Argentina. Pdf Map VIEWER
       
      de Abelleyra D, Verón S, Banchero S, Helena H, Mosciaro M, Noe Y, Vale L, Morales C, Gaitán J, Volante J. (2019) Towards the generation of National Crop Type maps in Argentina. ESA Living Planet Sympossium 2019. Milan, Italy. 13-17 May, 2019. LINK

       
      Dingle Robertson, L., Davidson, A., McNairn, H., Hosseini, M., Mitchell, S., de Abelleyra, D., Verón, S., Cosh, M.H. (2018). SAR speckle filtering and agriculture field size: Development of sar data processing best practices for the JECAM SAR intercomparison experiment. Proceedings of the International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium: 3828-3831. 10.1109/IGARSS.2018.8519299.LINK
       

      Project Reports

      Study Team

      Team Leader

    • Name: Diego de Abelleyra
    • Affiliation: National Institute of Agriculture Technology (INTA)
    • Affiliation Webpage: http://www.inta.gob.ar/
    • Position:
    • Email: deabelleyra.diego@inta.gob.ar
    • Personal Webpage: https://inta.gob.ar/personas/deabelleyra.diego
    • Phone number:
    • Postal Address: Repetto y de los Reseros s/n, Hurlingham (1686), Buenos Aires, Argentina
    • Other Team Members

    • Name: Santiago Verón
    • Affiliation: National Institute of Agriculture Technology (INTA)
    • Affiliation Webpage: https://inta.gob.ar/
    • Position:
    • Email: veron@agro.uba.ar
    • Personal Webpage: https://inta.gob.ar/personas/veron.santiago
    • Role: Co-Lead