Which film type is effective for detecting crop disease?

False color infrared film is particularly effective for detecting crop disease because it captures light in a way that highlights the health of vegetation. Healthy plants reflect infrared light differently than stressed or diseased plants. This type of film allows surveyors and agricultural specialists to assess plant health by visualizing differences in the infrared spectrum, which is not as easily seen using natural color or black and white film.

By using false color infrared, areas of crop stress that might be caused by disease or inadequate water supply will appear differently from healthy areas. This capacity to distinguish between healthy and unhealthy vegetation makes it a powerful tool in agricultural monitoring and precision farming.

Natural color film, for instance, does not provide sufficient contrast to detect early signs of crop diseases as it primarily captures the visible spectrum. Similarly, panchromatic black and white film provides a view of the landscape but lacks the capability to discern specific plant health issues that arise from the way plants interact with infrared light. Black and white infrared can show differences, but it's typically less effective than false color infrared in highlighting the subtle variations in plant stress.