This landuse mapping project is primarily a study of temporal agricultural patterns. As such it generally required Spring imagery of the entire Delta to capture ripening Winter wheat, Summer scenes to identify the warm season crops, and Fall scenes to visualize harvesting patterns. In order to take advantage of maximum spectral variance between crops for optimal scene selection, the planting patterns and phenologies of the major crops, as described by the Arkansas Agricultural Statistics Service (1993), were examined. Informal interviews with both FSA field office personnel and local University of Arkansas agronomy department faculty were also conducted for that purpose. Satellite images not then archived at CAST and corresponding to optimum crop identification dates were identified. Prior to purchase these scenes were screened for system error and cloud cover. Acceptable scenes were selected and purchased. A total of twelve Landsat Thematic Mapper satellite scenes were acquired. An additional twelve Landsat TM scenes, used for the 1992 Arkansas GAP analysis project, were archived at CAST. The study area is covered by six TM scenes (23/35, 23/36, 23/37, 24/35, 24/36, and 24/37). For three season coverage a total of 18 scenes were needed; a total of twenty-four scenes were available for the project. The entire study area was covered for all of the following time periods: March/April, June, July/August, and October, . Upon receipt, all purchased scenes were inspected for any sign of system error. One scene was found to have irreparable system errors. It was returned and exchanged for another scene.

(Path/Row Chart)

(Soybean Phenology Chart)