Two Phase Sampling for Wheat Acreage Estimation

A two phase Landsat-based sample allocation and wheat proportion estimation method was developed. This technique employs manual, Landsat full frame-based wheat or cultivated land proportion estimates from a large number of segments comprising; a first sample phase to optimally allocate a smaller phase two sample of computer or manually processed segments. Application to the Kansas Southwest CRD for 1974 produced a wheat acreage estimate for that CRD within 2.42 percent of the USDA SRS-based estimate using a lower CRD inventory budget than for a simulated reference LACIE system. Factor of 2 or greater cost or precision improvements relative to the reference system were obtained