A study of spectral-polarization characteristics of plant canopies using land-based remote sensing

- The reflection and polarization properties of plant were studied.
- The compiled electronic database of the spectrophotometric information of plant.
- The study of influencing of viewing angle to SBC of plant canopies were carried out.

The study addresses reflection and spectral-polarization characteristics of forest stands and farm crops obtained under field conditions. The study of the reflection properties of farm crops shows that during the summer plant growing season, the major factors influencing the plant canopy reflectance are morpho-physiological parameters, plant architectonics, solar elevation h0, and viewing angle. The crop reflectance minimum was recorded at viewing angles 25-30° with respect to the nadir. Coniferous and broadleaf forest stands had similar reflectance spectra of polarized light. The polarized component was smaller for all coniferous stands than for broadleaf ones. For broad-leaved farm crops (wheat and corn), the polarized component of the spectral brightness coefficients had a greater influence on the plant reflectance in the red and near-infrared spectral regions, λ>720 nm.