Monitoring Rubber Plantation Distribution and Biomass with Sentinel-2 Using Deep Learning and Machine Learning Algorithm (2019–2024)

Yingtan Chen, Jialong Duanmu, Zhongke Feng, Jun Qian, Zhikuan Liu, Huiqing Pei, Pietro Grimaldi, Zixuan Qiu

The number of rubber plantations has increased significantly since 2000, especially in Southeast Asia and China, and their ecological impacts are becoming more evident. A robust rubber supply monitoring system is currently required at both the production and ecological levels. This study used Sentinel-2 multi-rule remote sensing images and a deep learning method to construct a deep learning model that could generate a distribution map of rubber plantations in Danzhou City, Hainan Province, from 2019 to 2024. For biomass modeling, 52 sample plots (27 of which were historical plots) were integrated, and the canopy structure was extracted as an auxiliary variable from the point cloud data generated by an unmanned aerial vehicle survey. Five algorithms, namely Random Forest (RF), Gradient Boosting Decision Tree, Convolutional Neural Network, Back Propagation Neural Network, and Extreme Gradient Boosting, were used to characterize the spatiotemporal changes in rubber plantation biomass and analyze the driving mechanisms. The developed deep learning model was exceptional at identifying rubber plantations (overall accuracy = 91.63%, Kappa = 0.83). The RF model performed the best in terms of biomass prediction (R2 = 0.72, RRMSE = 21.48 Mg/ha). Research shows that canopy height as a characteristic factor enhances the explanatory power and stability of the biomass model. However, due to limitations such as sample plot size, image differences, canopy closure degree, and point cloud density, uncertainties in its generalization across years and regions remain. In summary, the proposed framework effectively captures the spatial and temporal dynamics of rubber plantations and estimates their biomass with high accuracy. This study provides a crucial reference for the refined management and ongoing monitoring of rubber plantations.