Evaluation of canopy temperature depression, transpiration, and canopy greenness in relation to yield of soybean at reproductive stage based on remote sensing imagery

•We evaluated canopy temperature depression, transpiration and canopy greenness in relation to yield of soybean based on remote sensing.•We identified the optimum time and provide a new way for rapid predicting yield.•CTD and T at noon during the reproductive period can be better used for predicting yield.•Each 1 °C increase in CTD at noon would, on average, reduce yield of soybean by 273–304 kg /ha.