*2.6. Lodging Maize Identification*

BLRC, MLC, and random forest classification (RFC) are specialized for maize lodging identification using image features. The samples used as inputs to the MLC and RFC were randomly collected by using the "region of interest" (ROI) tools provided by ENVI version 5.1. The distribution of the ROI regions was uniform, which made the samples highly representative of the lodging and nonlodging maize in the entire study area. Then, 27 and 28 ROI regions were selected for lodging and nonlodging maize samples, respectively. The total numbers of sample pixels representing lodging and nonlodging maize were 58,819 and 61,747 pixels, respectively. In terms of shadow, according to the predecessor's processing method [9], shadows with areas of more than 5.41 m<sup>2</sup> were placed into the lodging class to reduce the influence of shadows on the classification process.
