A methodological approach to assess canopy NDVI-based tomato dynamics under irrigation treatments

•Tomato canopy NDVI was calculated for each plant using oversegmented multispectral UAV-imagery.•Irrigation doses (50, 70 and 85 % ETc) induced lower LAI, EWTcanopy and NDVI than control (100 % ETc).•Volumetric soil moisture resulted in a decreased trend with decreasing water application along the growing season.•A three-parameter logistic mixed model captured the irrigation treatments effect on NDVI growth curves.•Goodness-of-fit for observed and predicted NDVI indicated the suitability of the three-parameter logistic mixed model.