J Indian Soc Remote Sens (March 2013) 41(1):8390 DOI 10.

1007/s12524-012-0207-6

RESEARCH ARTICLE

Assessment of Aphid Infestation in Mustard by Hyperspectral Remote Sensing

Jitendra Kumar & Ananta Vashisth & V. K. Sehgal & V. K. Gupta

Received: 24 February 2011 / Accepted: 20 February 2012 / Published online: 20 March 2012 # Indian Society of Remote Sensing 2012

Abstract Field experiment was conducted during 200910 and 201011 rabi season at research farm of IARI, New Delhi for assessing the aphid infestation in mustard. In aphid infested plant the LAI was 67 to 94% lower than healthy plant. Chlorophyll concentration decreased to 50% in infested plant as compared to healthy plant. Infestation was more severe in late sown crop and due to aphid infestation the percentage oil content and yield was reduced significantly. The spectral reflectance of aphid infested canopy and healthy canopy taken in the laboratory had significant difference in NIR region. In the visible region, the reflectance peak occurred in healthy canopy at around 550 560 nm while this peak was lower by 31% in the aphid infested canopy. The reflectance for healthy crop was found to be more in visible as well as NIR region as compared to aphid infested canopy. The most significant spectral bands for the aphid infestation in mustard are in visible (550560 nm) and near infrared regions (7001250 nm and 19502450 nm). The different level of aphid infestation can be identified in 1950 2450 nm spectral regions. Spectral indices viz NDVI, RVI, AI and SIPI had significant correlation with
J. Kumar : A. Vashisth (*) : V. K. Sehgal : V. K. Gupta Division of Agricultural Physics, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 110012, India e-mail: ananta.iari@gmail.com

aphid infestation. Hence these indices could be used for identifying aphid infestation in mustard. Keywords Mustard . Aphid . Hyperspectral remote sensing Vegetation index . AI . NDVI . SIPI . RVI

Introduction Mustard is a major oilseed crop grown during rabi season. Though India occupies a major position in the acreage and production of mustard in the world, the average yield per hectare is low as compared to other mustard growing countries. One major reason for this low yield is aphid infestation which causes reduction in yield. This harmful organism reduces the quality and quantity of seeds. It is difficult to predict the onset, spread and development of aphid infestation. Hence, more systematic study on aphid infestation is necessary to quantify the relationship of the aphid infestation and crop growth. Hyperspectral remote-sensing approach, using remotely sensed reflectance for many continuous narrow wavelength bands, has been proposed for various aspects of crop management such as the identification and classification of plant species, yield estimation, as well as estimation of different crop bio-physical and bio-chemical parameters. Affect of pests and disease status on the spectral properties of the crop can be used

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to control site-specific application of insecticide (Pinter et al. 2003). The structure and physiological status of a crop controls incident energy reflected, transmitted and absorbed. The amount of reflected light depends on leafrelated factors, such as external morphology, internal structure, pigment concentration, moisture and internal distribution of biochemical components. Using remote sensing instruments, it is possible to monitor changes in crop health over the course of a growing season (Richardson et al. 2004). The presence of disease or insect feeding on a plant or canopy surface causes changes in chlorophyll, chemical concentrations, cell structure, nutrient and water uptake, and gas exchange, which leads to differences in colour and temperature that can modify canopy reflectance characteristics (Raikes and Burpee 1998). Developments in hyperspectral remote sensing have provided additional bands within the visible, near infrared and shortwave infrared. Most hyperspectral sensors acquire radiance information in less than 10 nm bandwidths from the visible to the SWIR (4002500 nm) (Asner 1998). Hyperspectral systems have made it possible for the collection of several hundred spectral bands in a single acquisition, thus producing many more detailed spectral data (Govender et al. 2007). Hyperspectral remote sensing can capture data in contiguous, narrow bands in the electromagnetic spectrum. The large numbers of bands provide with vast quantities of information. Therefore, hyperspectral data can often capture the unique spectra or spectral signature of an object and this signature can be used to differentiate and identify materials and their chemical compositions and can been utilized for wide range of applications (Kruse 1998). To improve crop production and prediction it is essential to have better tools for detecting stress.
Fig. 1 LAI in Pusa Gold affected by aphid infestation

Spectral vegetation indices could be used for detecting Russian wheat aphid (Diuraphis noxia Morlvilko) and greenbug stresses (Riedell and Blackmer 1999; Yang et al. 2005). Riedell and Blackmer (1999) conducted a greenhouse study to characterize leaf reflectance spectra of wheat stressed by Russian wheat aphid. In this study, it was concluded that leaf reflectance in the 625635 nm and 680695 nm as well as the normalized total pigment to chlorophyll a ratio index (NPCI) were good indicators of chlorophyll loss and leaf senescence caused by aphid feeding. Yang et al. (2005) used radiometer in greenhouse to characterized greenbug stress in wheat. They found that waveband centered at 694 nm and spectral vegetation indices derived from wavelengths centered at 800 nm and 694 nm were most sensitive to greenbug-damaged wheat. Nino (2002) used a multispectral hand-held radiometer to predict greenbug densities in a greenhouse study. He showed that the associations measured by the correlation coefficients (r) between greenbug density and vegetation indices varied from weak (r 0 0.31) to very strong (r 0 0.98). Apan et al. (2004) created the Disease-Water Stress Indices (DWSI15) to evaluate orange rust disease on sugarcane (Saccharum spp.). However, these indices have not been largely used or tested for different stresses. A few spectral indices among many were created to retrieve spectral information on vegetation stress caused by biotic stresses. Penuelas et al. (1995) defined the normalized phaeophytinization index (NPQI) to estimate cumulative mite (Panonychus ulmi Koch) days on apple trees (Malus domestica). Although remote sensing technique have been used to study the effect of many ecological variables, abiotic and biotic stresses on agricultural crop over decades, the potential of these technique for identifying the infestation

J Indian Soc Remote Sens (March 2013) 41(1):8390 Fig. 2 Chlorophyll concentration in Pusa Gold affected by aphid infestation

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and damage in mustard crop is yet to be explored. Remote sensing research in real time field use is desirable to provide spatial and temporal information for natural aphid infestation. Hence in-depth study is needed to explore the applicability and feasibility of using hyperspectral reflectance characteristics to identify and discern spectral signature of healthy and aphid infested mustard crop. Keeping in view the above facts, present study was carried out.

Materials and Methods Field experiments were conducted during 200910 and 201011 rabi season at research farm of IARI, New Delhi, India. Three varieties of Mustard viz., Pusa Gold, Pusa Jaikisan and Pusa bold were sown on 19th October, 3rd November and 18th November, 2009. The crops were raised following the standard recommended agronomic practices with three

replications in a randomized block design (RBD). Pusa Gold is more susceptible to aphid infestation as compared to other two varieties therefore this variety is sown in the pot under net house to observe the aphid infestation and for measuring spectral reflectance by Spectroradiometer. Observation on several crop growth parameters like leaf area index (LAI), biomass, chlorophyll content, aphid infestation was taken. The leaf area index was measured using canopy analyzer (model LICOR-3100). The samples collected for estimating leaf area index were utilized for assessing the biomass production. Plants samples were oven dried at 65C for 48 h or more until constant weight is reached. Chlorophyll concentration was also measured by DMSO method. Percentage oil content of the seeds for each plot was measured using low resolution pulsed 1H NMR (model no. PC20 Bruker, frequency- 20 MHz). Data was analysed using standard statistical methods.

Fig. 3 Spectral reflectance of aphid infested canopy measured in field

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86 Fig. 4 Spectral reflectance in aphid infested canopy measured in laboratory

0.40 0.35 0.30

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Healthy Infec ted

Reflectance

0.25 0.20 0.15 0.10 0.05 0.00 250

500

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Wavelength (nm)

Spectral reflectance of healthy as well as aphid infested canopies of Pusa Gold were taken using spectroradiometer on clear sunny days between 1100 and 1300 h. The spectroradiometer covers the spectral range between 350 and 2500 nm. The sampling interval over the 350 1000 nm range is 1.4 nm with a resolution of 3 nm (bandwidth at half maximum). Over the 10002500 nm range, the sampling interval is about 2 nm and the spectral resolution is between 10 and 12 nm. The spectral reflectance of aphid, healthy plant and plant with aphid infestation were measured in laboratory. The spectral reflectance of non-stressed and stressed canopies from aphid feeding, at different aphid population, were also measured in the laboratory. The spectral reflectance of aphid infested canopies in the pot were also measured.

Spectral Indices The spectral data were processed and using the data RVI, NDVI, SIPI and AI were calculated using the following formulae.

S.No. 1.

Indices NDVI (Normalised difference vegetation index) RVI (Ratio vegetation index) AI (Aphid index) SIPI (Structural independent pigment index)

Computation

Reference Rouse et al. (1974) Jordan (1969) Mirik et al. (2006) Penuelas et al. (1993)

NIRRED NIRRED

2. 3. 4.

NIR RED R761 R908 R712 R719 R800 R445 R800 R650

Fig. 5 Spectral reflectance of aphid infested canopy in field, laboratory and pot at different level of infestation

J Indian Soc Remote Sens (March 2013) 41(1):8390 Table 1 Spectral indices of aphid infested mustard crop at different level of infestation in the field Index NDVI AI SIPI RVI Infested plant (level1) 0.78 0.58 1.01 8.14 Infested plant (level 2) Index 0.74 7.85 1.01 6.74 NDVI AI SIPI RVI 0.45 1.23 1.54 2.61 0.33 2.00 1.18 1.98 Infested plant (level 1)

87 Table 3 Spectral indices of aphid infested mustard crop at different levels of infestation measured in the Pot (net house condition) Infested plant (level 2)

Result and Discussion Leaf Area Index and Chlorophyll Concentration Leaf area index is an important parameter for the crop growth studies since it is useful in interpreting the capacity of a crop for producing dry matter in terms of the intercepted utilization of radiation and amount of photosynthesis synthesized. Leaf area index increased and reached a maximum around pod formation stage. Later, the leaf area index declined rapidly. Senescence and abscission coincided with onset of flowering and completed well before maturity. Maximum leaf area index was attained in the first sowing in all the three cultivars. Leaf area index was found to be higher in healthy crop as compared to aphid infested crop. Leaf area index was reduced by 67 to 94% in aphid infested canopies as compared to healthy canopies (Fig. 1). Chlorophyll concentration measured by DMSO method was found to be higher in healthy crop as compared to aphid infested crop. The reduction of chlorophyll concentration was 40 to 59% in aphid infested canopy as compared to healthy canopy (Fig. 2). Chlorophyll concentration reached maximum at 80 days after sowing and thereafter decrease. Spectral Characterization of Mustard Canopy Affected by Aphid Infestation The spectral reflectance of healthy canopies and aphid infested canopies were taken by Spectroradiometer (ASD FS3) in the field (Fig. 3). There was difference in the reflectance pattern of both healthy as well as aphid infested canopy. The spectral reflectance of aphid infested canopy and healthy plants taken in the laboratory had significant difference in NIR region. In the visible region the reflectance peak occurred in healthy canopy at around 550560 nm while there was no peak in the aphid infested plants (Fig. 4). In aphid infested plants the reflectance was increasing while there was sharp increase in the reflectance for healthy canopy at 700750 nm and decreases sharply at 1250 nm. Therefore aphid infestation can be identified in 7501250 nm range. Again between 1950 and 2450 nm spectral range there was significant difference in the spectral reflectance of aphid infested plants and healthy plants as well as different level of aphid infested canopies. Therefore this spectral wavelength region could be used for identifying aphid infestation as well as different levels of aphid infestation in mustard crop.

Table 2 Spectral indices of aphid infested mustard crop at different levels of infestation in the laboratory (Control Condition) Index Infested plant (level 1) 0.71 0.46 1.00 5.60 Infested plant (level 2) 0.48 22.0 0.94 2.87 Infested plant (level 3)

Table 4 Correlation coefficient among different spectral indices NDVI NDVI 1 AI 0.934* 1 SIPI 0.962** 0.971** 1 RVI 0.975** 0.873 0.916* 1

NDVI AI SIPI RVI

0.46 35.0 0.90 2.71

AI SIPI RVI

** Significance at p <0.01, *Significance at p <0.05

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Table 5 Percentage oil content in different varieties of mustard affected by aphid sown at different dates Varieties 19th October, 2009 Healthy Pusa Gold Pusa Jaikisan Pusa Bold 36.740.23 37.770.59 35.960.50 Infected 32.470.31 33.470.48 32.910.33 3rd November, 2009 Healthy 34.030.26 35.890.62 35.500.64 Infected 30.530.21 30.890.25 30.860.27 18th November, 2009 Healthy 30.850.20 34.390.39 33.490.40 Infected 24.100.34 30.491.05 29.800.47

Spectral reflectance data taken in the laboratory (Fig. 4) and in the field (Fig. 3) differs in relative reflectance, indicating that it is not easy to compare field data to the laboratory data. The reflectance for healthy crop was found to be more in visible as well as NIR region as compared to aphid infested canopy. There was large difference between the laboratory and field data this is because aphid density in the laboratory data was much higher than fields and there was no background noise from exposed soil and other uninfested plants. The spectral reflectance measured in the field, lab and pot condition at different aphid density are shown in Fig. 6. The 7501250 nm region (Fig. 5) shows that there was significant difference between infested and healthy canopy. Between different levels of infestation there was no difference in reflectance spectra in 7501250 nm but in 1950 2450 nm ranges there was a significant difference hence this range can be used for identifying different level of infestation in mustard. A significant decreases in the reflectance from the aphid infested canopies in the visible and NIR region was clear evidence that aphid feeding reduced the photosynthetic pigment concentration, in particular chlorophylls, which leads to lowered photosynthetic rate of crop (Riedell and Blackmer 1999). The reflectance peak from undamaged crop at around 550 560 nm, by the green leaf pigments (Riedell and Blackmer 1999). This reflectance peak was missing in the aphid infested canopies. Aphid infested canopies had the lower value of reflectance in NIR region as compared to healthy canopies. This was most likely due to degenerated internal leaf structure, reduced leaf area and stunting plant growth caused by aphid feeding (Castro et al. 1988; Morgham et al. 1994). Spectral response of field bean leaf infected by Botrytis fabau (Malthus and Madeira 1993) and winter wheat infested by greenbug (Riedell and Blackmer 1999) showed similar patterns in the reflectance. Infected leaf reflectance was lower

in the NIR spectrum than uninfected leaves, which was similar to the spectral properties of greenbug damaged wheat leaves (Riedell and Blackmer 1999) and canopies found in present study. Remote sensors can quantify what fraction of the photosynthetically active radiation is absorbed by vegetation. In the late 1970s, some studies found that net photosynthesis is directly related to the amount of photosynthetically active radiation that plants absorb. In short, the more a plant is absorbing visible sunlight (during the growing season), the more it is photosynthesizing and the more it is being productive. Conversely, the less sunlight the plant absorbs, the less it is photosynthesizing, and the less it is being productive. Spectral Indices The different spectral indices viz. NDVI, AI, RVI and SIPI were calculated from the spectral data taken in the field, laboratory and mustard raised in the pot (Tables 1, 2 and 3). The correlation coefficient (Table 4) was found to be positive between aphid infestation and LAI. However, NDVI, RVI and SIPI had negative correlation with aphid infestation. Mirik et al. 2006 recommended NDVI for studies of damage by aphids in wheat, because NDVI was strongly related to damage by greenbug. There are many studies attempting to correlate spectral vegetation indices with damages by greenbug or any other damages estimated through digital image analysis.
Table 6 Seed Yield (kg/ha) in different varieties of mustard sown at different dates Varieties 19th October, 3rd November, 18th November, 2009 2009 2009 20100.10 24101.01 21672.75 11970.85 19070.77 17370.53 3530.23 4800.058 4170.46

Pusa Gold Pusa Jaikisan Pusa Bold

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However correlating the estimates of leaf area index to spectral vegetation indices has been a well established practice in remote sensing studies (Anderson 2004; Hu et al. 2004; Walthall et al. 2004; Schlerf et al. 2005). Another comparison that has long been used is the relationship between vegetation indices and plant chlorophyll concentration (Broge and Mortensen 2002). Percentage Oil Content and Seed Yield The percentage oil content in first sown crop was 36.74, 37.77, 35.96 and 32.47, 33.47, 30.91, in second sown crop was 34.03, 35.89, 35.5 and 30.53, 30.89, 30.86 and in third sown crop was 30.85, 34.39, 33.49 and 24.1, 31.49, 29.8 in healthy and aphid infested crop of Pusa Gold, Pusa Jaikisan and Pusa Bold respectively (Table 5). The percentage oil content in aphid infested crop was found to be lower than the healthy crop. The oil content in aphid infested crop was found to be lower than the healthy crop by 13% in Pusa Bold and Pusa Jaikisan and 16% in Pusa Gold. The reduction in aphid infested crop was 6% and 8% for second sown crop, 26% and 6% for third sown crop in Pusa Gold and Pusa Jaikisan as compared to first sown crop. However in Pusa Bold there was marginal reduction in oil content with respect to date of sowing. There was reduction in seed yield due to delay of sowing because more aphid infestation in third sowing as compared to first and second sown crop (Table 6). Reduction in oil content and yield in delayed sowing was reported by Bhattacharya et al. (2000), Saha et al. (2000) and Neog et al. (2005). Our findings are in close conformity with their observations.

yield decrease significantly both quantitatively as well as qualitatively.

Acknowledgement Authors acknowledge Head, Division of Agricultural Physics, IARI, New Delhi for the facilities and PG school IARI for financial support to undertake study.

References
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Conclusions The conclusion derived from this study is that remote sensing can be a useful tool for monitoring the effect of aphid infestation in mustard crops using hyperspectral data. The most significant spectral bands for the aphid infestation in mustard are at visible (550 560 nm), near infrared region (7001250 nm) and 19502450 nm. The different level of aphid infestation can be identified in 19502450 nm. The various indices are having negative correlation with LAI. Aphid infested crop had low LAI, chlorophyll concentration, seed yield and percentage oil content as compared to healthy crop. Due to aphid infestation seed

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