MSAVI2 - Modified Soil-Adjusted Vegetation Index

MSAVI2 Modified Soil-Adjusted Vegetation Index

The modified soil-adjusted vegetation index (MSAVI) is an index designed to substitute NDVI where they fail to provide accurate data due to low vegetation or a lack of chlorophyll in the plants.

During the stages of germination and leaf development, there is a lot of bare soil between the seedlings. NDVI and other vegetation indices could interpret this as poor vegetation. Here is where MSAVI comes to aid. “SA” stands for “soil-adjusted,” revealing the key aspect of this vegetation index. It reduces the effect of the soil on the calculation of vegetation density in the field.

Generic Formula (R is the reflectance at the wavelengths (nm) denoted by the subscripts):

Sentinel 2 Band Formula: 

References:

• Qi, J., Chehbouni, A., Huete, A. R., Kerr, Y. H., & Sorooshian, S. (1994). A modified soil adjusted vegetation index. Remote sensing of environment, 48(2), 119-126.