🤔 What is the NDVI index?
NDVI (Normalized difference vegetation index) is an indicator of plant health. It shows how a plant reflects red and near-infrared light waves. A healthy plant with a lot of chlorophyll and good cell structure actively absorbs red light and reflects near-infrared light.
The index ranges from -1 to 1. NDVI values between -1 to 0 correspond to surfaces like snow, water, sand, stones, and infrastructure objects, such as roads and houses. NDVI values for plants range from 0 to 1.
👨🌾 Our blog has more insights into what the NDVI index can tell you at different stages of the season.
🍎 Contrasted NDVI
The 'Contrasted NDVI' layer in the mobile and web apps shows differences in the field's NDVI values more clearly with bright, contrasting colors. You can spot problem areas on your smartphone screen, even on a bright sunny day out in the field. NDVI is typically shown on a scale of 0 to 1. But the color scale for contrasted NDVI ranges from the minimum to maximum NDVI values present in this particular field.
🔍 How to check the vegetation quality in the web app
NDVI data is available in the field card on the 'Status' tab.
How to view the current NDVI index on a map
Go to the 'Fields' section of the main menu.
Select NDVI as a map layer and set the label to average NDVI if needed.
You may also find it useful to specify sorting by index value in the field list settings.
How to view the index for a specific date
Go to the 'Fields' section of the main menu and select a field from your field list or click it on the map.
On the 'Status' tab, expand the field preview and select the 'NDVI' or 'Contrasted NDVI' layer. It may take a few seconds to calculate the index.
A calendar bar with the dates of the available images will appear at the top of the screen. Switch between dates to see how the index has changed over time.
Click on the split window icon on the right of the screen to compare NDVI for different days or with different layers.
How to view an NDVI graph of the season
Go to the 'Fields' section of the main menu and select a field from your field list or click it on the map.
Use the vegetation index chart in the 'Status' tab to see how NDVI values changed during the season. Select your own time frame to plot the graph if necessary.
When hovering the mouse over the chart line, the platform will prompt the median value of the index on that date.
📱 How to monitor NDVI in the mobile app
Go to the 'Fields' tab.
Select NDVI or Contrasted NDVI as a map layer to analyse the farm view.
Click on the field to monitor day to day changes.
You can also turn on notifications in the OneSoil Scouting mobile app to find out about NDVI updates! In the mobile app, open the 'Profile' tab and select 'Settings'. Activate the notifications by clicking the tumbler in the 'Notifications' section.
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