Estimation of Dry Matter and N Nutrient Status of Choy Sum by Analyzing Canopy Images and Plant Height Information

Abstract

The estimation accuracy of plant dry matter by spectra- or remote sensing-based methods tends to decline when canopy coverage approaches closure; this is known as the saturation problem. This study aimed to enhance the estimation accuracy of plant dry matter and subsequently use the critical nitrogen dilution curve (CNDC) to diagnose N in Choy Sum by analyzing the combined information of canopy imaging and plant height. A three-year experiment with different N levels (0, 25, 50, 100, 150, and 200 kg∙ha−1) was conducted on Choy Sum. Variables of canopy coverage (CC) and plant height were used to build the dry matter and N estimation model. The results showed that the yields of N0 and N25 were significantly lower than those of high-N treatments (N50, N100, N150, and N200) for all three years. The variables of CC × Height had a significant linear relationship with dry matter, with R2 values above 0.87. The good performance of the CC × Height-based model implied that the saturation problem of dry matter prediction was well-addressed. By contrast, the relationship between dry matter and CC was best fitted by an exponential function. CNDC models built based on CC × Height information could satisfactorily differentiate groups of N deficiency and N abundance treatments, implying their feasibility in diagnosing N status. N application rates of 50–100 kgN/ha are recommended as optimal for a good yield of Choy Sum production in the study region.