Estimation of Soil Moisture Content in Corn Field Using Microwave Scatterometer Data

A ground-based microwave scatterometer has an advantage for monitoring soil moisture content using multi-polarization, multi-frequencies and various incidence angles. In this paper, ground-based multi-frequency (L-, C-, and X-band) polarimetric scatterometer system capable of making observations every 10 min was used to monitor the soil moisture conditions in a corn field over an entire growth cycle. Measurements of volumetric soil moisture were obtained and their relationships to the backscatter observations were examined. Time series of soil moisture content was not corresponding with backscattering coefficient pattern over the whole growth stage, although it increased until early July (Day Of Year, DOY 160). We examined the relationship between the backscattering coefficients from each band and soil moisture content of the field. Backscattering coefficients for all bands were not correlated with soil moisture content when considered over the entire stage ($r{\leq}0.48$). However, L-band Horizontal transmit and Horizontal receive polarization (HH) had a good correlation with soil moisture ($r=0.85^{**}$) when LAI was lower than 2. Prediction equations for soil moisture were developed using the L-HH data. Relation between L-HH and soil moisture shows linear pattern and related with soil moisture content ($R^2=0.77$). Results from this study show that backscattering coefficients of microwave scatterometer appear to be effective to estimate soil moisture content in the field level.