Assessment of the capabilities of multi-temporal ERS-1 SAR data to discriminate between agricultural crops

The capability of ERS-1 SAR precision data to discriminate between crop types for land cover inventory purposes at the earliest stage in the growing season was assessed using a field-based classification. The objectives were tested for an agriculturalregion in the Netherlands, where twelve crop types are found. Fourteen ERS-1 SAR images were available for this area, covering the 1992 growing season (May to November). The field-based classification yielded an overall classification accuracy of 80% with the optimal data set. The stage at which the crop types could be assessed depended on the crop. Cereals could be discriminated in May, potatoes and rape-seed in May and June.