Microwave scattering signatures for distinguishing healthy and infested date palm trees

Early detection of pest-infested date palms is vital to prevent pest spread and support agricultural sustainability. By analyzing microwave scattering behavior, specifically radar cross-section (RCS), this work assesses the potential of microwave sensing in identifying healthy versus infested date palms. The trunk is represented as a dielectric cylinder illuminated by a uniform plane wave with both TM$$^z$$ and TE$$^z$$ polarizations (with respect to the z-axis). An assessment of dielectric properties in healthy versus infested trees is conducted, along with an analysis of angle-dependent ($$\phi$$) scattering behavior. Results reveal significant differences in the RCS between healthy and infested trees, particularly in the angular ranges of $$0^{\circ }\le \phi \le 45^{\circ }$$ for TM$$^{z}$$ polarization, and $$0^{\circ }\le \phi \le 100^{\circ }$$ for TE$$^{z}$$ polarization. The study demonstrates that microwave sensing offers a promising non-invasive tool for early pest detection and effective tree health management, providing a basis for large-scale agricultural monitoring.