The objective of this two year study was to evaluate the usefulness of NDVI imagery for determining crop vigor / plant height.  Remote sensing is an inexpensive method to collect information on plant biomass variability over large acreages (Vellidis et al., 2004).  Biomass indicators have been used for decades based on the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) index.  GPS-based maps with NDVI color coded classes were utilized to obtain plant parameter measurements (height, development, etc.) based on the NDVI index. Imagery was used to collect field information and GPS capable pocket PC’s that were and equipped with HGIS software were utilized for “zone scouting”.  Data were collected in the Northwest Plains of Texas at 5 locations in 2006 and 3 locations in 2007.  A John Deere 7445 cotton stripper equipped with an Agriplan yield monitor was used to collect yield data.  Yield maps were created to determine yield by zone. 

Data were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) and when a significant F test was observed, mean separation was performed using the least significant difference (LSD) at the 5% probability level.