Abstract/Summary

The accurate and timely assessment of pasture quantity and quality (i.e., nutritive characteristics) is vital for effective pasture management. Remotely sensed data can be used to predict pasture quantity and quality. This study investigated the ability of Sentinel−2 multispectral bands, con-volved from proximal hyperspectral data, in predicting various pasture quality and quantity pa-rameters. Field data (quantitative and spectral) were gathered for experimental plots represent-ing four pasture types—perennial ryegrass monoculture and three mixtures of swards represent-ing increasing species diversity. Spectral reflectance data at the canopy level were used to gener-ate Sentinel−2 bands and calculate normalised difference indices with each possible band pair. The suitability of these indices for prediction of pasture parameters was assessed. Pasture quan-tity parameters (biomass and Leaf Area Index) had a stronger influence on overall reflectance than the quality parameters. Indices involving the 1610 nm band were optimal for acid detergent fibre, crude protein, organic matter and water-soluble carbohydrate concentration, while being less affected by biomass or LAI. The study emphasises the importance of accounting for the quan-tity parameters in the spectral data-based models for pasture quality predictions. These explora-tive findings inform the development of future pasture quantity and quality models, particularly focusing on diverse swards.