Retrieving canopy height and density of paddy rice from Radarsat-2 images with a canopy scattering model

Quantification of rice biophysical properties is important not only for rice growth monitoring and cropping management, but for understanding carbon cycle in agricultural ecosystems. In this study, a rice canopy scattering model (RCSM) was firstly utilized to simulate rice backscatter with a root mean square error (RMSE) <1 dB in comparison with the C-band, HH-polarization Radarsat-2 images. And then, by integrating the model with a generic algorithm optimization tools (GOAT), canopy height and density were separately retrieved from Radarsat-2 images acquired in three rice growth stages (elongation stage, heading stage and yellow ripening stage). Accuracy analysis showed that the two parameters could be retrieved with the RMSE of 5.4 cm in height, and 26 (#/m2) in density. The study demonstrated the potential of Radarsat-2 SAR data for quantitative mapping of biophysical parameters of paddy rice.