Vis-NIR spectral differentiation of Albizia procera (Roxb.) Benth. and Saccharum spp.

Identification and differentiation of invasive plants in agricultural crops can be done by using appropriate image processing methods. It is first necessary to determine the spectral differences and select those that distinguish the species under study. Albizia procera (Roxb.) Benth., is an invasive species in natural landscapes and agricultural ecosystems such as sugar cane cultivation (Saccharum spp.). The objective of this research was to identify spectral reflectance traits of leaves of A. Procera and Saccharum spp. Fifty leaves of each species were collected. Vis-NIR spectral signatures were acquired at laboratory level with a portable spectrophotometer in the wavelength range 399 to 1697 nm. Large variability of the average features was determined in both species, which is mainly manifested in the amplitude of the reflectance and not in the shape of the spectral characteristic. At 730.48 nm (close to the geometric centre of the red edge), 1032.16 nm and 1395.91 nm, different combinations of the three amplitudes were formed for each species. The results allowed the characterisation of spectral variations and the identification of significant wavelengths from which to proceed to the discrimination and classification of the two crop species studied. It was concluded that proper band selection and local calibration using a spectral classification approach can facilitate the mapping of A. procera in a given geographical area.