Publications

Zhang, Q; Zhang, GL; Zhang, Y; Xiao, XM; You, NS; Li, ZC; Tang, H; Yang, T; Di, YY; Dong, JW (2024). Coupling GEDI LiDAR and Optical Satellite for Revealing Large-Scale Maize Lodging in Northeast China. EARTHS FUTURE, 12(1), e2023EF003590.

Abstract
Wind-induced crop lodging can reduce agricultural production and impact food security. However, a systematic evaluation of large-scale crop lodging and its drivers is lacking, mostly due to the limited observations available. Such knowledge gaps hinder the application of effective management practices to mitigate yield losses. Here, we quantify maize-lodging induced by three consecutive typhoons in Northeast China in 2020 using direct crop canopy height observations from the Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigations (GEDI) instrument and optical satellite imagery. We show that the canopy water-related vegetation index provides a robust wall-to-wall mapping of crop lodging, supported by changes in GEDI canopy height. Our spatially contiguous lodging maps show that lodging intensity is mainly due to typhoon intensity (64.34%), with maize plantation fraction (11.94%) and phenology (7.94%) as secondary factors. The shelterbelt forest may partly alleviate the lodging risk, but its effect requires further investigation. Considering the recent expansion of maize cultivation and the poleward shift of landfalling typhoons alongside climate change, the lodging risk may increase for maize and further threaten China's food security. Wind-induced crop lodging can substantially reduce agricultural production and jeopardize regional and global food security. However, large-scale characterizations of typhoon-induced crop lodging are limited, hindering the understanding of its overall impacts and driving mechanisms. We show for the first time that the novel space-borne LiDAR and optical satellite data can provide a consistent picture of crop damage caused by typhoons at the regional scale, mainly due to typhoon intensity and maize planting fraction. Future overlap between increased typhoons and maize expansion may further threaten China's food security. Our insights also apply to other major maize-producing regions affected by landfalling typhoons or hurricanes, such as the Midwestern US, and help improve crop lodging monitoring systems and mitigation practices. Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation footprints can well reveal changes in maize height caused by typhoons in Northeast ChinaThe land surface water index provides a robust wall-to-wall mapping of crop lodgingMaize lodging intensity is mainly due to typhoon intensity (64.34%), followed by maize plantation fraction (11.94%) and phenology (7.94%)

DOI:
2328-4277

ISSN:
10.1029/2023EF003590