Assessment of Aphid Infestation in Mustard by Hyperspectral Remote Sensing

Field experiment was conducted during 2009–10 and 2010–11 rabi season at research farm of IARI, New Delhi for assessing the aphid infestation in mustard. In aphid infested plant the LAI was 67 to 94% lower than healthy plant. Chlorophyll concentration decreased to 50% in infested plant as compared to healthy plant. Infestation was more severe in late sown crop and due to aphid infestation the percentage oil content and yield was reduced significantly. The spectral reflectance of aphid infested canopy and healthy canopy taken in the laboratory had significant difference in NIR region. In the visible region, the reflectance peak occurred in healthy canopy at around 550–560 nm while this peak was lower by 31% in the aphid infested canopy. The reflectance for healthy crop was found to be more in visible as well as NIR region as compared to aphid infested canopy. The most significant spectral bands for the aphid infestation in mustard are in visible (550–560 nm) and near infrared regions (700–1250 nm and 1950–2450 nm). The different level of aphid infestation can be identified in 1950–2450 nm spectral regions. Spectral indices viz NDVI, RVI, AI and SIPI had significant correlation with aphid infestation. Hence these indices could be used for identifying aphid infestation in mustard.