Application of Optical Remote Sensing in Rubber Plantations: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) is a tropical tree crop cultivated for the industrial production of latex. The trees are tall, perennial and long-lived, and are typically grown in plantations. In most rubber-producing countries, smallholders account for more than 85% of plantation area. Traditional practices mean that it can be difficult to monitor rubber plantations for management purposes. To overcome issues associated with monitoring traditional practices, remote sensing approaches have been successfully applied in this field. However, information on this is lacking. Therefore, this study aims to document the current status, history, development and prospects for remote sensing applications in rubber plantations by using the PRISMA framework. The review focuses on the application of optical remote sensing data in rubber. In this paper, we discuss the current role of remote sensing on specific subject areas, namely mapping, change detection, stand age estimation, carbon and biomass assessment, leaf area index (LAI) prediction and disease detection. In addition, we elaborate on the benefits gained and challenges faced while adapting this technology. These include the availability and free access to satellite imagery as the greatest benefit and the presence of clouds as one of the toughest challenges. Finally, we highlighted four potential areas where future work can be done: (1) Advancements in remote sensing data, (2) algorithm enhancements, (3) emerging processing platforms, and (4) application to less studied subject areas. This paper gives insight into strengthening the potential of remote sensing for delivering efficient and long-term services for rubber plantations.