Headland and Field Edge Performance Assessment Using Yield Maps and Sentinel-2 Images

Headland and field edges have a higher traffic frequency compared to the centre, which causes more compaction. Most repeated compaction is located at entrance area headland during machinery turning material transporting that takes place fertilisation, herbicide laying, harvesting of fields, could cause soil structure destruction yield reduction. In this study, differences between headland, edges, centre were studied using maps vegetation indices (VIs) calculated by Google Earth Engine (GEE). First, thirteen from 2019 2022 used measure difference centre. Then, one hundred eleven fields northern Italy compare area. size, sand, clay content estimated GEE. The map showed 12.20% 2.49% lower than results comparison VIs headlands had values with reductions 4.27% 2.70% in normalised index (NDVI), 4.17% 2.67% green normalized (GNDVI), 5.87% 3.59% red edge (NDRE). Additionally, indicated losses increased as sand decreased. These findings suggest structural damage caused negatively affect crop yield.