The relationship of Landsat digital data to the properties of Arizona rangelands

Pedon descriptions, vegetation transect information, and Landsat digital data were obtained for 110 sites on the Tonto National Forest in central Arizona. Using the field and satellite data, 33 variables were evaluated and prediction models were generated using stepwise multiple regression techniques. The following six factors explained 84% of the variability within the sum of the values for the four Landsat spectral bands: sum of brush and forest crown densities, elevation, surface color, rock type, cobbles on the surface of the site, and grass cover. Seven factors explained 81% of the variability for the ratio of Bands 4 plus 5 to Bands 6 plus 7: percent clay in the surface horizon, percent fragments > 2 mm in the surface horizon, the sum of forest and brush crown densities, pH of the surface horizon, color of the surface horizon, litter cover, and site aspect.