VERTICAL LEAF SPECTRAL VARIATION AS AN INDICATOR OF NITROGEN NUTRITION STATUS IN RICE PLANTS

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted to study the response of individual leaf spectral reflectance to five levels of nitrogen fertilizer treatments in rice (Oriza sativa L.) plants. Sampling was combined through a rice canopy at upper, medium and low levels for biomass, nitrogen and water content measurements with spectral signals from the leaves. The vertical gradients of leaf biomass, nitrogen and water contents were associated with the nitrogen availability during tillering, panicle formation, initial heading and heading. Rice plants treated with the lowest rate of N could be characterized with the lowest value of gradient in leaf biomass and leaf water content and the highest value of gradient in leaf N concentration. A spectral gradient of single reflectance (R), ratio (RVI) and normalized difference (ND) of two individual reflectances was defined as this yielded a better relationship between the spectral data and leaf nitrogen concentration. The results suggested the spectral gradients may be used as an improved diagnostic tool for nitrogen status.