Satellite NDVI monitoring at field level
Sentinel-2 NDVI and NDRE for saved fields. The satellite crop signal shows zones of uneven development and focuses scouting.
No card required · no automatic chargesThe field is patchy — find weak zones earlier
On a larger field, a weaker zone often becomes visible to the eye only after the process is well advanced. NDVI from red and near-infrared reflectance separates parts that differ from the rest of the field — or from their own earlier state — sooner.
Meteon computes NDVI and NDRE from Sentinel-2 scenes for saved fields and shows them inside the boundary. Nutrient application, sampling and scouting can then be planned where the difference is largest.
Using the satellite signal in the field
- Compare within the field. Stronger and weaker zones on the same scene carry more information than a generic NDVI threshold.
- Look at the time series. A one-off difference may be noise or cloud shadow; a gap that grows across scenes is the real signal.
- Pick a control point. Walk a normally developing, similar area alongside the weak zone.
- Identify the cause. By checking soil moisture, roots, leaf symptoms, compaction and weed pressure together.
Scene selection and freshness
The system uses the newest Sentinel-2 scene with at most 25% cloud cover, looking back up to sixty days. Surface-heat layers use Landsat 8 and 9 with a wider window because revisit is longer.
Every displayed value includes the acquisition date so freshness is always clear. If no usable scene exists for the field, the system says so — it does not invent a value. Method detail is in the practical NDVI guide; sources and licences are in the source list.
Frequently asked questions
Does NDVI name the cause of a problem?
NDVI measures canopy development and green biomass — not the cause. A lower value may reflect water stress, nutrient lack, disease, compaction, poor emergence or weeds. The index marks where to look; cause is confirmed in the field.
How often does the satellite image refresh?
Sentinel-2 overflies Hungary’s latitude every two to three days, but only sufficiently cloud-free scenes are usable. Persistent cloud can leave a longer gap between usable images. The acquisition date is always shown with the value.
What is the difference between NDVI and NDRE?
Both are vegetation indices. NDRE uses the red-edge band, so it stays more sensitive in dense, closed canopies where NDVI saturates.
