Understanding Radar Co-Polarized Phase Signatures for Growing Corn At L-Band

This study aims to discuss the use of L-band radar backscatter and phase information to analyze soil moisture (SM) and crop conditions, focusing on corn vegetation. While previous research has primarily utilized total backscatter magnitude to assess SM and crop conditions, this work explores the potential of phase information, which may be more sensitive to crop structure and suitable for monitoring crop dynamics. The methodology involves radar measurements using the University of Florida L-band Automated Radar System (UF-LARS), destructive vegetation sampling, and calibration techniques. Preliminary results demonstrate significant differences in CPD between bare soil and vegetated conditions, with phase variations associated with different growth stages of corn. This ongoing project indicates the potential of phase information to characterize vegetation growth stages for corn and similar crops.