Vegetation indices for monitoring agronomic performance of potato under combinations of mineral and organic fertilization

Abstract

ABSTRACT Potatoes are one of the main vegetables consumed worldwide. However, dependence on mineral fertilizers compromises producers’ profitability. New alternatives are required to increase agricultural crop yield while sustaining production. Vegetation indices have improved the agility and benefits of experimental evaluations of vegetables; however, there is a scarcity of information on potatoes. Thus, the present study aimed to assess the effectiveness of different vegetation indices for monitoring the agronomic performance of potato crops fertilized with a combination of mineral fertilizers and organic compost. The study was conducted in the municipality of Perdizes, Minas Gerais, Brazil. A randomized block design was used. Each plot was divided into five subplots that received 25 combinations of mineral and organic fertilizer treatments in four replications. Images were acquired using a remote-piloted aircraft, which generated spectral values of vegetation indices in relation to various combinations of fertilizer doses. Mineral fertilizer doses significantly correlated with the normalized green-red difference index (NGRDI), normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), and green leaf index (GLI) at r = 0.824, 0.836, and 0.833, respectively. Even in an environment with high variability in plant growth, the NGRDI, NDVI, and GLI were significantly correlated with mineral fertilization. The agronomic performance of potato crops under various fertilizer dosages could be monitored using the obtained vegetation indices.