Combining electromagnetic induction and satellite-based NDVI data for improved determination of management zones for sustainable crop production

Accurate delineation of management zones is essential for optimizing resource use and improving yield in precision agriculture. Electromagnetic induction (EMI) provides a rapid, non-invasive method to map soil variability, while the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) obtained with remote sensing captures aboveground crop dynamics. Integrating these datasets may enhance management zone delineation but presents challenges in data harmonization and analysis. This study presents a workflow combining unsupervised classification (clustering) and statistical validation to delineate management zones using EMI and NDVI data in a single 70 ha field of the patchCROP experiment in Tempelberg, Germany. Three datasets were investigated: (1) EMI maps, (2) NDVI maps, and (3) a combined EMI–NDVI dataset. Historical yield data and soil samples were used to refine the clusters through statistical analysis. The results demonstrate that four EMI-based zones effectively captured subsurface soil heterogeneity, while three NDVI-based zones better represented yield variability. A combination of EMI and NDVI data resulted in three zones that provided a balanced representation of both subsurface and aboveground variability. The final EMI–NDVI-derived map demonstrates the potential of integrating multi-source datasets for field management. It provides actionable insights for precision agriculture, including optimized fertilization, irrigation, and targeted interventions, while also serving as a valuable resource for environmental modeling and soil surveying.