Global Cropland Extent

2024-05-08T03:29:24.695273+00:00
crop

This study utilized 250m MODIS (MODerate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) data to map global production cropland extent. A set of multi-year MODIS metrics incorporating four MODIS land bands, NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) and thermal data was employed to depict cropland phenology over the period 2000-2008. Sub-pixel training datasets were used to generate a set of global classification tree models, resulting in a global per-pixel cropland probability layer. The probability product was then thresholded to create a discrete cropland/non-cropland indicator map using data from the USDA-FAS (Foreign Agricultural Service) Production, Supply and Distribution (PSD) database describing per-country acreage of production field crops.