Thesis. 1976. Ph.D.--Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. / Microfiche copy available in Archives and Engineering. / Vita. / Includes bibliographical references. / Ph.D.

Typescript (photocopy). / Digitized by Kansas Correctional Industries

A cultura do feijão (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) apresenta posição de destaque no agronegócio brasileiro e na alimentação da população; a manutenção de elevados índices produtivos está condicionada a utilização da irrigação de forma racional e na escolha adequada das cultivares. Diante disso, torna-se fundamental o conhecimento das respostas fisiológicas e produtiva de diferentes cultivares de feijão submetida a três níveis de disponibilidade hídrica. Tais conhecimentos ainda são pouco difundidos e necessitam de pesquisas para sua melhor compreensão. O objetivo do presente trabalho foi estudar a resposta dos aspectos produtivos e fisiológicos de cultivares de feijão com monitoramento e manejo da irrigação diferenciados. O experimento foi conduzido em condições controladas no Instituto Agronômico do Paraná (IAPAR), em Londrina, PR com delineamento de blocos ao acaso em esquema fatorial e cinco repetições, constando de três cultivares de feijão e três níveis de disponibilidade hídrica no solo, monitorada por tensiômetro instalado a 0,15; 0,20 e 0,30 m de profundidade. Foram avaliados a fitomassa seca das folhas, caule, legume, parte aérea, raízes e total; rendimento de grãos e índice de colheita; fotossíntese, concentração interna de carbono no mesófilo foliar, transpiração e condutância estomática, eficiência da fotossíntese, e eficiência no uso da água instantânea e extrínseca. Os resultados indicaram variação em relação à produção de fitomassa seca de folhas, parte aérea, total, rendimento de grãos e índice de colheita, com maiores valores para a cultivar IAPAR 81 submetida à disponibilidade hídrica total de 463 mm. A cultivar IPR Tangará apresentou resultado semelhante para característica índice de colheita, nas demais não apresentou diferença com disponibilidade hídrica total de 463 e 547 mm, considerando as características citadas anteriormente. Todas as características avaliadas foram menores para a cultivar IPR Curió, a qual não apresentou diferenças com disponibilidade hídrica total de 329 e 404 mm na produção de fitomassa seca da parte aérea, total, rendimento de grãos e índice de colheita. O desenvolvimento radicular das cultivares IAPAR 81 e IPR Tangará foram semelhantes, diferentemente da cultivar IPR Curió que apresentou menor crescimento. Houve comportamento diferenciado das três cultivares avaliadas e maior capacidade de recuperação das atividades fisiológicas para as cultivares IAPAR 81 e IPR Tangará em comparação a cultivar IPR Curió; aos 62 dias após a semeadura, foi observada maior redução nos tratamentos cujo monitoramento da irrigação foi realizado a 0,30 m de profundidade para as cultivares IAPAR 81 e IPR Tangará. A cultivar IPR Curió apresentou redução gradativa dessas características ao longo do ciclo de desenvolvimento. Considerando os resultados conclui-se que as cultivares de feijão apresentaram resposta diferenciada em relação às características produtivas e fisiológicas, a maior produção de grãos ocorreu com disponibilidade hídrica monitorada a 0,20 e 0,30 m de profunidade, as cultivares IAPAR 81 e IPR Tangará apresentaram capacidade de recuperação das atividades fisiológicas após um período de maior estresse; a cultivar IPR Curió apresentou menor eficiência no uso da água. A cultivar IAPAR 81 é mais adequada para locais sujeitos à deficiência hídrica e as cultivares IPR Tangará e IPR Curió serão mais responsivas em sistemas de produção irrigados; não foram observadas alterações nocivas ao aparato fotossintético das cultivares, em função dos tratamentos. / The bean crop (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) has a prominent position in the Brazilian agribusiness and food of the population; the maintaining of high production rates is dependent upon use of irrigation rationally and in choosing suitable of cultivars. Therefore, it is necessary to know the physiological and productive responses of bean cultivars under three levels of water availability. Such knowledge is still not disseminated and need research for better understanding. The aim of this work was to study the response of productive and physiological aspects of bean cultivars with different monitoring and management of irrigation. The experiment was conducted in Agronomic Institute of Paraná State (IAPAR) in Londrina, PR with a randomized block design in a factorial arrangement with five replications, consisting of three bean cultivars and three levels of soil water availability, monitored by tensiometer installed 0.15; 0.20 and 0.30 m depth. Were evaluated: dry biomass of leaves, stems, pod, aerial part, shoots, and total; grain yield and harvest index; photosynthesis, internal carbon concentration in mesophyll, transpiration, stomatal conductance, photosynthesis efficiency, and efficiency in the use of instant and extrinsic water. The results indicated variation in relation to dry biomass production of leaves, aerial part, total, grain yield and harvest index, with higher values for IAPAR 81 cultivar with total water availability of 463 mm. The IPR Tangará cultivar showed similar results of characteristics to harvest index but in the other characteristics showed no difference in total water availability of 463 and 547 mm, considering the characteristics previously mentioned. All characteristics were smaller to IPR Curió cultivar, which no showed differences in total water availability of 329 and 404 mm in the dry biomass production of aerial parts, total grain yield and harvest index. The root development of the IAPAR 81 and IPR Tangará were similar, unlike IPR Curió cultivar which showed lower growth. There was a differential behavior of the three cultivars and greater resilience of physiological activities for IAPAR 81 and IPR Tangará cultivars compared to IPR Curió cultivar; at 62 days after seedling, greater reduction in irrigation treatments whose monitoring was carried out at 0.30 m depth for IAPAR 81 and IPR Tangará cultivars was observed. The IPR Curió cultivar showed gradual reduction of these characteristics throughout the development cycle. Considering the results it is concluded that the cultivars showed different responses in relation to the productive and physiological characteristics, the largest grain production occurred with water availability monitored at 0.20 and 0.30 m depth, the IAPAR 81 cultivars and IPR Tangará showed resilience of physiological activity after a period of increased stress; IPR Curió cultivar showed lower water efficiency use. The IAPAR 81 cultivar is more suitable for locations where the water deficit is frequent and the IPR Tangará and IPR Curió cultivars be more responsive in irrigation systems production; no changes harmful was observed to the photosynthetic apparatus of cultivars, independent of the treatments.

Projected increasing temperatures and reduced summer precipitation in the UK raises questions about the sustainability of aspects of the agriculture industry and food security. This study investigates the potential impact of precipitation changes on sugar beet yield in Eastern England. Observations of precipitation was examined for the period 1971-2000 and the expected changes in precipitation were investigated using seven CMIP5 climate models for the historical phase (1971-2000) and RCP45 and RCP85 future scenarios (2021-2050). Three out of the seven models were found to show good agreement with observations but the MOHC ensemble mean was the closest to the observed means and was used for further precipitation analyses. Statistical analysis of the future precipitation changes were performed using the Met Office Hadley Centre (MOHC) model focused on changes between the historical phase and RCP45 and RCP85. Results showed a consistent and significant reduction in annual May-October precipitation under future scenarios. The study then investigated the impact of reduced future precipitation changes on sugar beet yield by applying controlled watering regimes informed by the CMIP5 projections to sugar beet plants in a greenhouse experiment over two seasons - the use of CMIP5 projections in this way is a first. In the first experiment carried out in 2014, a climatological watering regime (i.e. where the total seasonal rainfall for the different scenarios was applied in equal and regular watering events) was applied to the plants, which meant a 16% reduction in precipitation in the "future" category relative to a "control" category. Analysis of the yields indicated a statistically significant reduction in mean tuber wet mass: mean of 360g for the control and 319g for the future (p-value 0.03). This implies a potential yield reduction of 11% by 2050. In the second experiment carried out in 2015, a "realistic distribution" watering regime (i.e. where the total seasonal rainfall is applied in a series of watering events that reflect the analysed sizes and distribution of rainfall events in the different categories), this meant a reduction in precipitation in the months of June (-15.6%), July (-7.7%) and August (-3.7%). This resulted in statistically significant reduction in mean tuber wet mass between control (153g) and RCP85 (113g) with a p-value of 0.01. This implies a reduction of 26% in future yields under RCP85 by 2050. Results in this thesis further show how changes and variation in precipitation are intertwined with changes in soil moisture and yield of sugar beet plants. The findings will enable UK sugar beet farmers to identify potential areas of challenges in order to adapt their management practices to ensure maximum crop yield in future growing seasons. Moreover, from a global perspective, the findings here are also broadly applicable to a variety of agricultural crops in different parts of the world, where changes in yield may have important consequences to food security and food prices.

Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar o efeito da umidade em quatro tipos de solos sobre a emergência de adultos e duração da fase pupal das moscas-das-frutas, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann, 1824) e Anastrepha fraterculus (Wiedemann, 1830) e do bicho-furão dos citros, Gymnandrosoma aurantianum Lima, 1927 e na emergência do parasitóide de moscas-das-frutas, Diachasmimorpha longicaudata (Ashmed, 1905), utilizando-se diferentes potenciais mátricos de água no solo e com uma metodologia própria e desenvolvida no presente trabalho. As profundidades de pupação de G. aurantianum e A. fraterculus foram estudadas em tratamento seco e úmido (5%), com a finalidade de se determinar a profundidade adequada para cada espécie utilizada nos experimentos de avaliação da influência da umidade em quatro tipos de solo. G. aurantianum pupou na mesma profundidade em substrato úmido ou seco. A pupação de A. fraterculus é mais superficial em condições secas, com 100% de pupação entre 0 e 1,5 cm. Para C. capitata, a profundidade utilizada no experimento de influência da umidade e do tipo de solo foi a de 3,0 cm. A duração da fase pupal desta espécie foi influenciada diferentemente para machos e fêmeas. Para fêmeas, apenas o tipo de solo influenciou a duração da fase pupal, que foi maior no solo Argiloso. Nos machos, a duração da fase de pupa foi influenciada pela umidade e pelo tipo de solo, isoladamente, ocorrendo redução da fase pupal de machos de C. capitata no solo Muito Argiloso e Argilo arenoso, com maior duração no solo Argiloso. À medida que o potencial mátrico diminuiu, a duração da fase pupal de machos de C. capitata aumentou, independentemente do tipo de solo. A emergência de C. capitata foi influenciada pela umidade, independentemente do tipo de solo, sendo maior em solos mais secos. Para A. fraterculus, a interação da umidade e do tipo do solo influenciou a duração da fase pupal para machos e fêmeas de forma semelhante. As menores durações da fase pupal, para machos e fêmeas de A. fraterculus, foram proporcionadas nos solos com maiores teores de areia (Franco arenoso e Argilo arenoso) e no solo com alto teor de argila (Muito argiloso), neste caso, na maior umidade do solo. Porém, verificou-se, para fêmeas de A. fraterculus, redução da fase pupal à medida que a umidade dos solos Franco arenoso e Argilo arenoso diminuiu; para machos, esta redução foi observada em todas as umidades estudadas nestes solos. A emergência de A. fraterculus foi influenciada pela interação da umidade e do tipo do solo, sendo maior nos solos que apresentaram maior retenção de água nos diferentes potenciais mátricos aplicados aos solos Argilo arenoso e Muito argiloso. A emergência de D. longicaudata foi influenciada pelos fatores tipo de solo e umidade, isoladamente, sendo o número de adultos emergidos de D. longicaudata maior no solo Franco arenoso e menor no Muito argiloso; sempre, o número de adultos emergidos foi maior em altas umidades. A duração da fase de pupa de machos e fêmeas de G. aurantianum foi influenciada pela interação da umidade e do tipo de solo, porém de forma irregular e que não permitiu a construção de um modelo lógico que explique a relação entre maiores ou menores durações com teores de umidade e tipos de solo. A emergência de G. aurantianum foi influenciada pela interação umidade e tipo de solo, sendo maior em solos com maiores teores de areia. O presente trabalho poderá elucidar como alguns fatores do solo afetam o desenvolvimento destas pragas e do inimigo natural, auxiliando na adoção de novas estratégias de manejo, além de fornecer subsídios para a amostragem e para o entendimento da ocorrência destas pragas em ambientes agrícolas. / The goal of this work was to evaluate moisture effect on four soil types in the emergence of adults and duration of the pupal stage of fruit flies, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann, 1824) and Anastrepha fraterculus (Wiedemann, 1830) and citrus fruit borer, Gymnandrosoma aurantianum Lima, 1927, and in the emergence of the fruit fly parasitoid, Diachasmimorpha longicaudata (Ashmed, 1905), using different soil water matric potential and a particular methodology, developed in this work. The pupation depths of G. aurantianum and A. fraterculus were studied through a dry and moist (5%) treatment, in order to determine the adequate depth for each species for further use in the investigation of the influence of moisture on four soil types. G. aurantianum pupated at the same depth either under moist or dry medium. A. fraterculus pupation was more superficial under dry conditions, with 100% pupation between 0 and 1.5 cm. For C. capitata, one used a 3.0 cm depth to verify the influence of moisture and soil type. The pupal stage duration of the species was affected differently for males and females. For females, only the soil type influenced the pupal stage duration, which was higher under Clay soil (42,8% clay). In males, the pupal stage duration was influenced by moisture and soil type separately, and the pupal stage of C. capitata was low in Clay (68% clay) and Sandy Clay soil, with higher duration in Clay soil (42,8% clay). As the matric potential decreased, the duration of the pupal stage of C. capitata males increased, regardless of the soil type. The emergence of C. capitata was influenced by the moisture, regardless of the soil type, and was higher in drier soils. For A. fraterculus, the moisture-soil type interaction influenced the pupal stage duration for both males and females similarly. The lower pupal stage durations for A. fraterculus males and females were provided by higher sand content soils (Sandy Loam and Sandy Clay soils) and in high clay content soil (Clay soil, 68% clay), in the higher soil moisture. For A. fraterculus females, however, the pupal stage decreased as the moisture of Sandy Loam and Sandy Clay soils decreased; for the males, such reduction was observed in all moisture degrees studied on these soils. The emergence of A. fraterculus was influenced by the moisture-soil type interaction, higher in higher water retention soils at different matric potentials applied to Sandy Clay and Clay (68% clay) soils. The emergence of D. longicaudata was influenced by the soil type and moisture factors separately, and the number of adults emerging from D. longicaudata was higher in Sandy Loam and lower in Clay (68% clay) soil; the number of emerged adults was always higher under high moisture. The duration of the pupal stage of G. aurantianum males and females was influenced by the moisturesoil type interaction; however, it was irregular and failed to allow the construction of a logical model to explain the relationship between higher or lower durations with moisture contents and soil types. The emergence of G. aurantianum was influenced by the moisture-soil type interaction, higher at higher sand content soils. This work may clarify how some soil factors affect the development of these pests and relating natural enemies, a path to new management strategies, providing subsidies for the sampling and understanding of the occurrence of these pests in agricultural environments.

A produção de rosas em ambiente protegido sob fertirrigação é uma técnica bastante utilizada pelos produtores e vem se expandindo consideravelmente, principalmente no Estado de São Paulo; cultivo este antes restrito a região Sudeste, hoje se encontra em todas as regiões do País. O manejo adequado da irrigação associado à fertirrigação nitrogenada é um fator relevante nos parâmetros de produtividade e de qualidade das rosas. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a produtividade e a qualidade das hastes florais na cultura da roseira, variedade Samourai® Meikatana, submetida a diferentes níveis de depleção da água no solo e doses de nitrogênio aplicadas via fertirrigação sob cultivo em ambiente protegido. O experimento foi conduzido na área experimental do Departamento de Engenharia Biossistemas da Escola Superior de Agricultura \"Luiz de Queiroz\", em Piracicaba, SP. O delineamento estatístico foi em blocos casualizados, em esquema fatorial 4 x 4, totalizando 16 tratamentos, com 4 repetições, sendo a unidade experimental representada por uma parcela com dimensões de 0,4 x 0,5 x 2,0 m. Os tratamentos foram compostos pela combinação de quatro doses de nitrogênio (N1 = 5, N2 = 10, N3 = 15 e N4 = 20 g planta-1 ano-1) e quatro níveis de depleção da água no solo (F1 = 0,15; F2 = 0,30; F3 = 0,45 e F4 = 0,60). O sistema de irrigação utilizado foi o gotejamento, adotando manejo de irrigação com tensiômetros providos de transdutores de pressão. Ao longo do ciclo da cultura foi realizado o monitoramento da condutividade elétrica (CE), potencial hidrogeniônico (pH) e a concentração de nitrato (NO3-) e potássio (K) na solução coletada. Foram avaliados a produtividade, os parâmetros qualitativos das hastes e botões, a temperatura e o potencial da água na folha, o consumo hídrico, a produtividade da água, o teor de nutrientes no tecido vegetal e a renda bruta. Os resultados demostram que a dose de N que maximiza a produção comercial de hastes decresce à medida que se prolongam as colheitas. O estresse hídrico temporário (depleção) afeta negativamente os parâmetros quantitativos e qualitativos das hastes de rosas. A produção e a qualidade das hastes são mais afetadas pelas doses de nitrogênio do que pelos níveis de depleção da água no solo. A temperatura foliar e o potencial da água na folha são afetados pelos níveis de depleção e não são influenciados pelas doses de nitrogênio. O consumo hídrico é afetado por ambos os fatores estudados. A produtividade da água em hastes aumenta em função dos fatores doses de N e depleção da água no solo. Os tratamentos promoveram diferenças significativas na fitomassa e no teor de N > K > Ca > Mg > P > S no tecido vegetal das hastes florais de rosas. / The production of roses in protected environment under fertigation is a technique used by farmers and has expanded considerably, especially in the state of São Paulo, Brazil; this culture, previously limited to the Southeast region of Brazil, today is found in all regions of the country. Proper management of irrigation associated to nitrogenated fertigation is an important factor in productivity parameters and quality of cut roses. The aims of this study was to evaluate the productivity and quality of the flowers in the rose bush, \"Samourai® Meikatana\", variety, under different soil water depletion factors and nitrogen levels applied through fertigation under cultivation in protected environment. The experiment was carried in the experimental area of the Biosystems Engineering Department, School of Agriculture \"Luiz de Queiroz\", in Piracicaba, state of São Paulo, Brazil. Experimental design was a randomized blocks in a 4 x 4 factorial scheme, totaling 16 treatments, with four replications and plot with dimensions of 0.4 x 0.5 x 2.0 m. The treatments consisted of combinations of four nitrogen levels (N1 = 5, N2 = 10, N3 = 15 and N4 = 20 g plant-1 year-1) and four levels of soil water depletion (F1 = 0.15 ; F2 = 0.30, F3 = 0.45 and F4 = 0.60). The application of water and nutrients (fertigation) was performed when the soil water availability reached these percentages. The irrigation system used was drip irrigation adopting management with tensiometers equipped with pressure transducers. Throughout the crop cycle was performed monitoring of electrical conductivity (EC), potential hydrogen (pH) and concentration of nitrate (NO3-) and potassium (K) in the soil solution. The yield, the qualitative parameters of the stems and buds of cut roses, leaf temperature and water potential, water consumption, water productivity, nutrient content in plant tissue and gross income was evaluated. The dose of N which maximizes the commercial production of cut flowers decreases as it extends harvest. The temporary water stress (depletion) negatively affects the quantitative and qualitative parameters of cut roses. The production and quality of cut roses are more affected by nitrogen levels than by the soil water depletion. Leaf temperature and leaf water potential are affected by levels of depletion and are not influenced by the nitrogen levels. The water consumption is affected by both studied factors. Water productivity in cut roses increases due to the N levels and soil water depletion factors. The treatments promoted significant differences in phytomass and content of N > K > Ca > Mg > P > S in plant tissue of the roses floral stems.

Spaceborne microwave sensors are capable of estimating various properties of many geophysical phenomena, including the age and extent of Arctic sea ice and the relative soil moisture over land. The measurement and classification of such geophysical phenomena are used to refine climate models, localize and predict drought, and better understand the water cycle. Data from the active Ku-band scatterometers, the Quick Scatterometer (QuikSCAT), and the Oceansat-2 Scatterometer (OSCAT), are here used to classify areas of first-year and multiyear Arctic sea ice using a temporally adaptive threshold on reported radar backscatter values. The result is a 15-year data record of daily ice classification images. An additional ice age data record is produced using the C-band Advanced Scatterometer (ASCAT) and the Special Sensor Microwave Imager Sounder (SSMIS) with an alternate classification methodology based on Bayesian decision theory. The ASCAT/SSMIS classification methodology results in a record which is generally consistent with the QuikSCAT and OSCAT classifications, which conclude in 2014. With multiple ASCAT and SSMIS sensors still operational, the ASCAT/SSMIS ice classifications can continue to be produced into the future. In addition to ice classification, ASCAT is used to estimate the relative surface soil moisture at high-resolution (4.45 — 4.45 km per pixel). The soil moisture estimates are obtained using enhanced resolution image reconstruction techniques and an altered version of the Water Retrieval Package (WARP) algorithm. The high-resolution soil moisture estimates are shown to agree well with the existing lower resolution WARP products while also revealing finer details.

Saturated for most of the year, wetlands accumulate large amounts of biomass in thick organic soil horizons with slow rates of decomposition due to anaerobic conditions. Wetland soils thereby sequester large amounts of organic carbon in relative long-term storage. Municipal water demands in west-central Florida are largely met through extensive groundwater pumping. These withdrawals can impact ecosystems dependent on surface water levels that are ultimately linked to confined aquifers. Soils in a subset of cypress swamps that are monitored by the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) were sampled and analyzed to ascertain the health of the wetlands impacted by groundwater pumping. Soil water content, bulk density, and carbon and nitrogen content were systematically measured on replicate samples from three elevations in transects through the wetlands. "Healthy" wetlands were found to have higher soil water retention and consequently higher soil organic carbon (SOC) content in the top 30 cm of soil than "harmed" and "significantly harmed" cypress domes. However this trend was only significant at the lowest, central elevation of the wetland, at an elevation of the normal pool level minus 12 inches. These results provide quantitative evidence to support the notion that saturation of soils during most of the year is required to maintain the conditions that are conducive to the accumulation of soil organic matter. Conversely, unsaturated soils appear to be mineralizing large quantities of their stores of organic carbon. Since soil moisture and organic carbon contents are well correlated in the wetlands that were sampled, monitoring of soil water content may prove a convenient proxy for determining the organic carbon stores and thus the relative health of the wetland.

The ability to quantify soil moisture spatial variability and its temporal dynamics over entire fields through direct soil observations using remote sensing will improve early detection of water stress before crop physiological or economic damage has occurred, and it will contribute to the identification of zones within a field in which soil water is depleted faster than in other zones of a field. The overarching objective of this research is to develop tools and methods for remotely estimating soil moisture variability in agricultural crop production. Index-based and machine learning methods were deployed for processing hyperspectral data collected from moisture-controlled samples. In the first of five studies described in this dissertation, the feasibility of using “low-cost” index-based multispectral reflectance sensing for remotely delineating soil moisture content from direct soil and crop residue measurements using down-sampled spectral data were determined. The relative reflectance from soil and wheat stalk residue were measured using visible and near-infrared spectrometers. The optimal pair of wavelengths was chosen using a script to create an index for estimating soil and wheat stalk residue moisture levels. Wavelengths were selected to maximize the slope of the linear index function (i.e., sensitivity to moisture) and either maximize the coefficient of determination (R2) or minimize the root mean squared error (RMSE) of the index. Results showed that wavelengths centered near 1300 nm and 1500 nm, within the range of 400 to 1700 nm, produced the best index for individual samples; however, this index worked poorly on estimating stalk residue moisture. In the second of five studies, 20 machine learning algorithms were applied to full spectral datasets for moisture prediction and comparing them to the index-based method from the previous objective. Cubic support vector machine (SVM) and ensemble bagged trees methods produced the highest composite prediction accuracies of 96% and 93% for silt-loam soil samples, and 86% and 93% for wheat stalk residue samples, respectively. Prediction accuracy using the index-based method was 86% for silt-loam soil and 30% for wheat stalk residue. In the third study, a spectral measurement platform capable of being deployed on a UAS was developed for future use in quantifying and delineating moisture zones within agricultural landscapes. A series of portable spectrometers covering ultraviolet (UV), visible (VIS), and near-infrared (NIR) wavelengths were instrumented using a Raspberry Pi embedded computer that was programmed to interface with the UAS autopilot for autonomous reflectance data acquisition. A similar ground-based system was developed to keep track of ambient light during reflectance target measurement. The systems were tested under varying ambient light conditions during the 2017 Great American Eclipse. In the fourth study, the data acquisition system from the third study was deployed for recognizing different targets in the grayscale range using machine learning methods and under ambient light conditions. In this study, a dynamic method was applied to update integration time on spectrometers to optimize sensitivity of the instruments. It was found that by adjusting the integration time on each spectrometer such that a maximum intensity across all wavelengths was reached, the targets could be recognized simply based on the reflectance measurements with no need of a separate ambient light measurement. Finally, in the fifth study, the same data acquisition system and variable integration time method were used for estimating soil moisture under ambient light condition. Among 22 machine learning algorithms, linear and quadratic discriminant analysis achieved the maximum prediction accuracy. A UAS-deployable hyperspectral data acquisition system containing three portable spectrometers and an embedded computer was developed to classify moisture content from spectral data. Partial least squares regression and machine learning algorithms were shown to be effective to generate predictive models for classifying soil moisture.

Mountain headwater catchments in the semi-arid Intermountain West are important sources of surface water because these high elevations receive more precipitation than neighboring lowlands. The hydrology of these mountain catchments is especially important as the region faces water shortages and conflicts. Conifer encroachment on aspen stands has been observed across the western US and can result in a decline in water yield. The overall objective of this study was to further our understanding of hillslope-stream connectivity in a headwater catchment of Northern Utah and any observable differences in this connection between aspen and conifer hillslopes. Hillslopes are the fundamental unit of a watershed. Therefore understanding processes at the hillslope scale is pertinent to managing valuable water resources. However, hillslope hydrology is understudied in the snow-driven, semi-arid west, leaving a gap in our knowledge of how watersheds function. This thesis focuses on how and when hillslope water contributes to stream water: hillslope-stream connectivity. Its specific objectives are (1) to compare peak snow accumulation under aspen and conifer stands, (2) to determine if shallow soil moisture shows organized patterns, indicating hillslope-connectivity and compare these patterns between vegetation types, (3) to examine hillslope-stream connectivity within deep layers of the soil profile and compare times of connectivity between vegetation types and (4) to find any thresholds past which hillslope-stream connectivity begins.