MICROWAVE RADIOMETRIC SIGNATURES OF CORN 
by 
F.BENINCASA, G.FASANO, A.MATERASSI, S.PALOSCIA, P.PAMPALONI, G.ZIPOLI 
C.N.R-I.A.T.A - Via Pian dei Giullari, 42 Firenze 
ITALIA 
ABSTRACT 
Microwave signatures of corn have been experimentally investigated 
in June - July 1981. This experiment took place within the ESA-JRC SAR 580 
Campaign on the Italian test site I8. Data at two frequencies: 10 and 36 GHz 
from a ground based platform have been continuously recorded from about two 
months. 
Radiometric data have been correlated with several physical and 
biological parameters of the interface soil/vegetation. 
The strongest correlation is between the brightness temperature 
and the physical temperature of the interface vegetation air. The variation 
of the emissivity with physical conditions of crop is rather low; nevertheless, 
as a general trend, a lower emissivity during the daytime could be ascribed 
to the day/night variations of the water pressure of the upper layer of vegeta- 
tion. Other correlations have been considered with the soil moisture, the water 
content of the plants and the height of vegetation but no clear correlation 
with a descriptor of plant development has been found. 
279