Precision Farming Glossary
Learn about key concepts in precision agriculture, remote sensing, and EU farming policy.
NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index)
The most widely used index for measuring vegetation health from satellite data.
See it in actionNDWI (Normalized Difference Water Index)
Measures water content in vegetation canopies to detect drought stress.
See it in actionNDMI (Normalized Difference Moisture Index)
Detects moisture levels in vegetation using shortwave infrared data.
See it in actionEVI (Enhanced Vegetation Index)
An improved vegetation index that corrects for atmospheric and soil background effects.
See it in actionSAVI (Soil-Adjusted Vegetation Index)
Minimizes soil brightness influence in areas with sparse vegetation cover.
See it in actionGNDVI (Green Normalized Difference Vegetation Index)
More sensitive to chlorophyll concentration than standard NDVI.
See it in actionBSI (Bare Soil Index)
Identifies exposed soil areas using shortwave infrared and visible bands.
See it in actionSentinel-2
ESA's twin satellite mission providing free, high-resolution multispectral imagery globally.
See it in actionCopernicus Programme
The EU's Earth observation programme providing free environmental data and services.
See it in actionCAP Payments (Common Agricultural Policy)
EU direct payments and subsidies that support European farmers and rural areas.
See it in actionEco-Schemes
Voluntary environmental programs within CAP that provide additional per-hectare payments.
See it in actionPrecision Farming
Using technology and data to optimize agricultural inputs and maximize crop yields.
See it in actionRemote Sensing
Gathering information about the Earth's surface from satellites or aircraft without direct contact.
See it in actionVegetation Index
A mathematical formula applied to satellite bands to measure specific plant properties.
See it in actionChlorophyll
The green pigment in plants essential for photosynthesis, measurable from space.
See it in actionCrop Rotation
The practice of growing different crops in succession on the same land to maintain soil health.
See it in actionSchlagkartei (Field Records)
German system of mandatory field-level records documenting all agricultural activities.
See it in actionSoil Analysis
Laboratory testing of soil samples to determine nutrient content, pH, and physical properties.
See it in actionSatellite Monitoring
Continuous observation of agricultural fields using orbiting satellites for crop management.
See it in actionField Boundary
The geographic outline of an agricultural parcel, stored as a GeoJSON polygon.
See it in action