Assessing the Efficacy of PlanetScope SuperDove Multispectral Data in Citrus Orchard Management: Preliminary Results

In the face of increasing global food demand and the need for sustainable agricultural practices, the agricultural sector is relying more on technological innovations to boost productivity. Satellite imagery is a crucial tool for precision agriculture (PA). This study investigates the potential of PlanetScope (PS) satellite imagery, specifically its advanced 8-band multispectral sensor (SuperDove), for citrus orchard management. The research aims to assess the effectiveness of PS data in PA by monitoring and analyzing orchard health and dynamics using vegetation indices (VIs). The methodology involves applying these VIs to PS's multispectral data, essential for evaluating plant health and gaining insights into the vigor and condition of citrus orchards. This research delves into the capabilities of PS's new multispectral sensor in agricultural contexts. The initial findings will contribute to help optimizing citrus orchard management through improved satellite imagery applications compared to cost-effective free and open-source data (such as Sentinel-2). This research is at an early stage and seeks to showcase the practical applications and benefits of SuperDove PS data in agriculture. The expected results could offer groundbreaking insights into the role of satellite imagery in enhancing the efficiency and sustainability of citrus orchard management, marking a significant advancement in PA.