Beyond Vegetation: A Review Unveiling Additional Insights into Agriculture and Forestry through the Application of Vegetation Indices

Abstract

Vegetation indices (VIs) have long been a crucial tool for monitoring plant growth and health, assessing the impact of environmental factors on vegetation, and supporting decision-making processes in agriculture and forestry. Traditionally, these mathematical formulations, leveraging the spectral response of plants to sunlight, have been instrumental in assessing vegetation health. However, emerging research suggests some unconventional applications that extend the scope of VIs. This article surveys the traditional and novel uses of VIs in various fields, including other applications such as climate change studies, disaster management, or microorganism assessment. It underscores the value of VIs, such as the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), or the enhanced vegetation index (EVI), in tracking climate-related shifts, mitigating the impact of disasters, assessing microbial terroir, organic production, and even aiding the wine industry. Nonetheless, despite their promise, the practical application of VIs also presents interpretational and technical challenges that need to be addressed. Hence, while the vast potential of VIs is underscored in this article, it also calls for continued technological advancements and research efforts to fully harness their benefits, ultimately aiding in the sustainable management of our environment. The objective of this review is not only to reflect on the current situation, but also to explore innovative and unconventional applications of vegetation indices. This involves anticipating the potential of this dynamic and rapidly advancing scientific tool, rather than solely following mainstream approaches.

Field-Deployed Spectroscopy from 350 to 2500 nm: A Promising Technique for Early Identification of Powdery Mildew Disease (Erysiphe necator) in Vineyards

“…In addition, the PMVI bands are located in an intermediate region between those used for NDVI and NDRE, highlighting the importance of this region in vegetation assessment. This finding is not surprising, as this region concentrates on indicators for estimating plant health, photosynthetic capacity, changes in chlorophyll content and the nutritional status of plants [57,58]. Nevertheless, PMVI specifically uses the 675 nm and 755 nm wavelengths, as opposed to those traditionally used for NDRE, which has a red-edge band (700 nm to 730 nm) and a band in the near-infrared (NIR) (often near 780 nm or more), and for NDVI, which uses one band in the red (approximately 640 nm to 680 nm) and one band in the NIR (approximately 800 nm to 900 nm).…”

Estimating Rice LAI Using NDVI: A Method for Plant Conservation Education

“…NDVI and LAI are valuable tools for crop monitoring and provide valuable information about plant health, growth stage, and yield potential [23]. Despite some limitations, they provide real-time data over large spatial scales, facilitating the timely detection of stress factors and optimizing resource use.…”

Early Detection of Drought Stress in Durum Wheat Using Hyperspectral Imaging and Photosystem Sensing

“…To truly discern the nuances and effectiveness of each index, an analysis of the indi vidual genotypes is necessary. The NDVI, being a widely recognized index for vegetation health, proved to be a reliable indicator of drought resistance [61]. However, LWVI, particularly LWVI2, emerged as a potentially better predictor for early water stress.…”