Leaf Area Index Estimated of Pine Stand Using Remote Sensing

Abstract

Abstract This study was conducted on naturally growing pine trees in Dohuk Governorate, northern Iraq, to estimate the leaf area index using remote sensing techniques and also identify changes in forest tree cover and monitor them by foresters to make decisions towards sustainability. I took ground field data during the year 2022m from (30) Sample, measurements were taken of the height and diameter at breast height for each sample, as well as the height of the center of the crown and the number of trees. A function tree was chosen to represent the trees of the sample, along with calculating the number of branches for this tree. The wet weight of the leaves was also taken to calculate the average branch length for each of the three layers of the tree. The samples were dried until the weight was stable, and then the surface area of (150) sample leaves was estimated, and from there, the leaf area index was estimated. Vegetation cover indicators were also calculated by using a satellite data source derived from the Sentinel-2 satellite and calculating the equations for these indicators using (ArcGIS) program, so the paper area guide was prepared based on these indicators by preparing the following equations: (1) Estimating the area index as a function of the Natural Differences Vegetation Index (NDVI) : LAI = 2.40159-34.6505*NDVI + 159.204*NDVI2. (2) Leaf area index as a function of the percentage vegetation index (RVI) : LAI = -0.598472 + 1.13841*RVI. (3) Leaf area index as a function of the Green Natural Differences Index (GNDVI) : LAI = -0.99298 + 10.1345*GNDVI.