NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index)

NDVI is essential for precision agriculture, enabling farmers to monitor crop vigor and identify stress factors such as drought, nutrient deficiency, or pest pressure across large areas. It facilitates variable rate application of fertilizers and irrigation, ensuring that inputs are directed to the specific zones where they are most needed.

A common mistake is misinterpreting the index during the crop senescence phase or in early growth stages, where soil background reflectance dominates the sensor data. Practitioners should also be aware of the saturation effect in high-density biomass, where the index becomes less sensitive to further increase in foliage.