A NDVI Analysis Contrasting Different Spectrum Data Methodologies Applied in Pasture Crops Previous Grazing – A Case Study from Ecuador

New challenges arise with the modernization of agricultural practices, like the concept of environmental and economic sustainability of the production process. The profitability of a livestock farm depends on the quality of the food supplied to the animals, which if not managed in a technical way may affect the profitability of production. Demographic growth in Ecuador requires that more areas be allocated annually to food production for this population, which is why, in order to prevent these changes in land use, it seeks to implement new technologies for optimization. Therefore, we analyzed the variation of NDVI between a geostatistical model generated with data obtained from the FieldSpec4 terrestrial spectroradiometer and multispectral data obtained by the Parrot Sequoia sensor on a UAV in pastures prior to grazing. Therefore, four methodological phases have been performed, which have been used to validate the sensors in the laboratory, to calculate the NDVI model by UAV, to calculate a geostatistical model of NDVI and to analyze the correlation of both models. Where the correlation analysis between these NDVI models yields a positive correlation with a value of 76.89% correlation in addition to a value of R
²
= 0.591, defined a positive adjustment goodness. The obtained NDVI model with the Parrot Sequoia sensor has been the one that best fits reality, in addition to its use in UAV́s has greatly reduced costs respect to the conventional agriculture.