Ilienko T. Evaluation of agrophytocenoses moisture availability using Earth space remote sensing data

The thesis is focused on theoretical and experimental rationale for the use of space data to determine the moisture availability of agricultural landscapes and agricultural plants, identify drought phenomena. The aim of research is the development and improvement of space remote sensing methods to evaluate moisture availability of agrophytocenoses in different land use. Relevance of research is caused by necessity of improvement of the traditional monitoring system of agricultural landscapes in changing climate conditions, including diagnosis of such crises as droughts and operational information providing for business entities. Using modern satellite remote sensing systems contributes to obtaining more timely and accurate information about the status of agrophytocenoses, including moisture conditions. The system of remote indicators was formed and their groups were specified according to use for identifying drought phenomena and crop water stress at the country level, regional and local levels. The method for detection of water stress by the calculation of the elements of the energy balance was improved for agricultural landscapes with complicated relief. To determine the agrophytocenosis moisture content at the local level it was proved the possibility of replacement of satellite imagery of high spatial resolution (RapidEye, SICH-2), on medium spatial resolution (Landsat, MODIS/Terra), which are freely available. The economic efficiency of the practical use of remote sensing data to determine the moisture condition of crops was calculated. The obtained material gives reason to recommend the use of derived methods of determination of plant moisture content in the system for moisture availability of agricultural land monitoring.