Satellite assessment of winter cover crop and conservation tillage outcomes to support adaptive management in working landscapes

Authors: HIVELY, W - Us Geological Survey (USGS); Gao, Feng; McCarty, Gregory; DAUGHTRY, C - Former ARS Employee; Zhang, Xuesong; Jennewein, Jyoti; Thieme, Alison; LAMB, B - Us Geological Survey (USGS); KEPPLER, J - Maryland Department Of Agriculture; Hapeman, Cathleen; Cosh, Michael; Mirsky, Steven

Submitted to: Journal of Environmental Quality
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/14/2025
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Winter cover crops and conservation tillage are agricultural conservation practices that can reduce nutrient and sediment loss from cropland while improving soil health and carbon storage, but the on-farm environmental performance of these practices is variable. The Long-Term Agroecosystem Research (LTAR) project in the Lower Chesapeake Bay (LCB) has developed methods to use satellite images (Harmonized Landsat and Sentinel-2) to measure cover crop growth, emergence and termination dates, and performance measures (biomass, fractional cover, nitrogen content). The LTAR scientists have also developed techniques using new satellites to accurately map crop residue, the dead plant matter left covering the soil after conservation tillage. The research has produced a 7-year time series of tillage intensity maps for the Delmarva Peninsula, and has informed the design of upcoming satellites to measure crop residue. Each year the research team examines >28,000 fields in MD, DE, PA, and MO. Our results show the effects of agronomic management (planting date and method, species) on conservation outcomes (nitrogen uptake, cover crop growth, erosion prevention). This supports adaptive management of incentive payment structures (i.e. higher incentives for cover crop fields planted early). Our research can also reduce the workload for conservation district staff by verifying cover crop management. These maps are used in decision support tools and modeling efforts to understand the impacts of sustainable agriculture practices on the landscape (nutrient loss, erosion, carbon cycling). When developed in collaboration with conservation program managers, remote sensing data products can support the adaptive management of conservation incentive programs to increase environmental outcomes.

Technical Abstract: Winter cover crops and conservation tillage are agricultural conservation practices that can reduce nutrient and sediment loss from cropland while improving soil health and carbon storage, but on-farm environmental performance of these practices is variable. The Long Term Agroecosystem Research (LTAR) project in the Lower Chesapeake Bay (LCB) has collaboratively developed satellite remote sensing algorithms to measure cover crop growth, emergence and termination dates, and performance measures (biomass, fractional cover, nitrogen content) using Harmonized Landsat and Sentinel-2 (HLS) imagery from NASA. The research has led to annual operational assessment of >28,000 fields per year in MD, DE, PA, and MO. Results document the effects of agronomy on conservation outcomes, support adaptive management of incentive payment structures, and can reduce the workload for conservation district staff by verifying cover crop management. The LTAR scientists have also developed super-spectral satellite applications that accurately map crop residue cover by measuring lignocellulose absorption in the shortwave infrared (SWIR) wavelengths. The research has produced a 7-year time series of tillage intensity maps for the Delmarva Peninsula, and has informed the specifications for soil quality / non-photosynthetic vegetation bands to be included on the Landsat Next satellite mission. These remote sensing outputs are used in decision support tools and modeling efforts to estimate changes in nutrient and sediment loss and carbon cycling resulting from implementation of conservation practices in the working farm landscape. When developed in collaboration with conservation program managers, remote sensing data products can support adaptive management of conservation incentive programs to increase environmental outcomes.