This paper accomplished a space-temporal analysis of NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) in sugar cane crop, considering the phenological stage and the influence of pluvial precipitation of the current and previous month of 2003/2004 harvest. The methodology was applied in three areas, two with sugar cane and one of Atlantic Forest. Each area represents a pixel of the NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) satellite. Points P1 and P2 represent areas with sugar cane and point P3 a fragment of Atlantic Forest, all located at the Usina São José, in North of Pernambuco State. The phenological stage of sugar cane was related with NDVI and the precipitation of six periods of the crop cycle. For the space-temporaly analysis, the normalized difference vegetation index was applied, using images of sensor AVHRR (Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometric)/NOAa-16. The results showed a larger influence of precipitation of the previous month in the behavior of NDVI. In relation to the crop cycle, the development stage followed the evolution of NDVI, in other words, as biomass increases, the value of NDVI increases, and it begins to decrease when the maturation stage begins, starting from the seventh month after cutting.
temporal resolution; AVHRR sensor; phenological stage
