Below are selected thumbnail images from work done during 2000. each image showing up the characteristics of individual paddocks with the information being backed up by farmers comments. The images are representative of what DMSC (Digital Multispectral Camera) can do, in highlighting plant growth characteristics within given paddocks.

Without exception every paddock showed up different characteristics. A local Agronomist summarized the usefulness of the technology very well by saying, "It has mapped out all the differences in the paddock which I can see but do not have the time to cover the whole paddock."

The formats in each example are in True, PCD & False colour. All images are in 2 meter resolution.

Click on Image for further detail

PCD colour image was of an excellent crop taken at Scadden 1st week August 2000.  Compare the top paddock with the variation shown in other examples. It was unusual to see consistent paddocks like this one, most were more consistent with the lower paddocks.

PCD colour image taken at Wellstead 1st week in August. Note good growth on right hand side, farmer evidence suggests a load of potash was put out on this area 2 years ago, crop potential was 4-5T/Ha. there is a second PCD image taken 1st October. Note changes mainly due to season. At harvest the farmer found yield pattern across the paddock matched the image exactly.
False colour image taken at Wellstead 1st week August 2000, highlights areas to be spread with clay. By registering image for latitude & longitude a clay spreader equipped with GPS tracking could strategically distribute the clay for optimum economic benefit. On th PCD image note the good crop on the better soil type in the left corner. PCD image taken Cascades 1st week August. Farmer was surprised to see striping in his paddocks, it certainly was not visible from the ground. It would appear it is the result of poor seed & fertiliser distribution with his air seeder. It is also evident in the True & False clour images. Coincidently there was one other farmer with the same problem.
PCD clour image taken at Salmon Gums shows the effect of autumn spray management. The chemical mix in the tank was not the right formulation to knock the medic for the first few rows. The inner area was sprayed with a correct formulation to knock medic. In the true colour image as was backed up by the farmer the difference was not discernable by eye from the air. PCD image taken at Woogenellup, there was a marked difference in the crop in the top left corner. Farmer seems to think that a load of fertiliser was not taken there in past years, as soil & history should be the same.