Farming has always been about observation—looking at your crops and making decisions based on what you see. But what if you could see more than the naked eye allows? That’s where multispectral indices come in. With drones like the DJI Mavic 3M, farmers can now unlock invisible data about plant health that helps optimize yields, save money, and reduce guesswork.
This guide breaks down NDVI, NDRE, and other key vegetation indices into easy-to-understand terms—no technical jargon required.
What Are Multispectral Indices?
Multispectral indices are mathematical formulas that combine data from different bands of light—like red, green, red edge, and near-infrared—to measure specific aspects of plant health.
Think of them as "crop health scores" created from wavelengths our eyes can’t see. These scores help farmers:
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Detect early stress and disease
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Optimize fertilizer and pesticide use
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Track growth stages
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Predict yield with greater accuracy
NDVI: The Most Popular Index
NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) is the most widely used vegetation index.
What it measures:
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General plant vigor and biomass
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Overall crop health
How it works:
Healthy plants reflect lots of near-infrared light but absorb red light. NDVI combines these values into a single score, usually between -1 and +1. The higher the score, the healthier the plant.
Practical use:
A farmer flies their DJI Mavic 3M over a wheat field. NDVI maps highlight areas with weak plant vigor, allowing targeted fertilizer application only where needed.
NDRE: Zooming In on Early Stress
NDRE (Normalized Difference Red Edge Index) goes one step further by focusing on the red edge band, which is sensitive to chlorophyll content.
What it measures:
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Subtle changes in chlorophyll levels
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Early stress detection before visible symptoms
Practical use:
Corn plants may appear green to the naked eye, but NDRE maps could reveal decreasing chlorophyll levels in certain rows. This signals a nutrient deficiency early—weeks before the plants would show yellowing.
Other Indices You May Encounter
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GNDVI (Green NDVI): Useful for detecting nitrogen levels in crops.
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SAVI (Soil Adjusted Vegetation Index): Helps when soil is visible between plants, reducing background noise.
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MSAVI (Modified SAVI): Similar to SAVI but optimized for sparse vegetation.
Each index has a specific application, but NDVI and NDRE are the most common for everyday farming.
Why These Indices Matter for Farmers
By leveraging NDVI, NDRE, and others, farmers can:
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Save money by applying inputs only where necessary
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Increase yield by detecting and correcting issues early
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Save time with efficient drone-based scouting instead of manual walking surveys
What was once expensive satellite imaging is now affordable and accessible with drones like the DJI Mavic 3M.
Bringing It All Together
You don’t need to be a scientist to understand multispectral indices. Think of them as early warning tools that help you protect your crops and maximize efficiency. NDVI shows you the "big picture" of plant vigor, while NDRE helps you catch issues at their earliest stage.
By learning to read these indices, farmers can make smarter decisions—leading to healthier crops, higher yields, and better ROI.
🌾 Ready to see what your eyes can’t?
Explore the DJI Mavic 3M and transform the way you scout, monitor, and protect your fields.
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