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ARS Home » Plains Area » Lincoln, Nebraska » Agroecosystem Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #139788
Title: A CROP-BASED APPROACH FOR IN-SEASON N MANAGEMENT OF CORN

Author
item Shanahan, John
item HOLLAND, KYLE - HOLLAND SCIENTIFIC
item Schepers, James
item CALDWELL, ROBERT - UNIV OF NE/LINCOLN

Submitted to: North Central Extension Industry Soil Fertility Conference Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/1/2002
Publication Date: 11/1/2002
Citation: Shanahan, J.F., Holland, K., Schepers, J.S., Caldwell. R. 2002. A crop-based approach for in-season N management of corn. Proceedings of the North Central Extension-Industry Soil Fertility Conference. 18:102-108.

Interpretive Summary: Over-application of nitrogen (N) fertilizer on corn has resulted in elevated levels of N in ground and surface waters. Our goal is to reduce these over-applications by using remote sensing to direct fertilizer only to areas needing N at times when the crop can efficiently utilize the N. We have finished an initial cycle of testing of an on-the-go remote sensor system, which when interfaced with a rate controlling mechanism and mounted on a high-clearance tractor is intended to operate as an in-season N applicator. The remote sensor measures light reflected from the crop in four wavebands in the blue, green, red and the near infrared (NIR) regions of the electromagnetic spectrum. These four wavebands have been previously shown to be the most useful and/or sensitive in detecting N deficient plants with diminished chlorophyll levels. The specific goal of this work was to compare the performance of canopy reflectance measured with the remote sensor system to variations in leaf greenness or chlorophyll as determined with a handheld chlorophyll meter. This was accomplished using replicated small plots planted with two corn hybrids receiving five N rates (0, 50, 100, 150, and 200 lbs of N) grown under irrigation near Shelton, NE in 2000 and 2001 seasons. Sensor reflectance data and hand-held chlorophyll meter data were acquired on several dates from the experimental plots during both seasons. The four-color bands from the sensor were used to compute two vegetation indices, which provide an indication of the level of canopy greenness. The first index is the green normalized vegetation index (GNDVI), involving green and NIR bands and second index is the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), utilizing the red and NIR bands. Nitrogen application increased chlorophyll meter values by 33%, GNDVI by 15%, and NDVI by 5%. GNDVI was more highly correlated with chlorophyll meter values than NDVI, with maximum correlations of 0.90 and 0.88 in 2000 and 2001, respectively. In summary, findings from our work suggest the sensor system we evaluated is capable of detecting variations in corn leaf chlorophyll status induced by varying levels of N application, since variation in the sensor readings expressed as GNDVI was highly correlated with ground-based chlorophyll meter values in both years of the study. Our results suggest that the sensor system can be used to identify N deficiency during the time that the crop is still able to take up N and overcome an N deficiency (i.e., stages V8 to R2). Given the option of using high-clearance applicators configured with the sensor system, a GPS and application rate controller, the potential for reducing pre-season N applications and emphasizing in-seasons variable N applications exists.

Technical Abstract: Over-application of nitrogen (N) fertilizer on corn has resulted in elevated levels of N in ground and surface waters. A major factor contributing to decreased N use efficiency and environmental contamination for traditional corn N management schemes is routine pre-season application of large doses of N before the crop can effectively utilize this N. Our long-term research goal is to reduce these over-applications by using remote sensing to direct fertilizer only to areas needing N at times when the crop can most efficiently utilize the N. We have finished an initial cycle of testing on an enhanced multispectral four band (blue, green, red and NIR) crop reflectance sensor system, which when mounted on a high-clearance tractor is intended to operate as an in-season N applicator. The specific goal of this work was to compare the performance of canopy reflectance measured with the sensor system to variations in leaf greenness or chlorophyll content determined with a chlorophyll meter. Treatments consisting of two hybrids and five N rates were grown under irrigation near Shelton, NE in 2000 and 2001. Sensor bands (blue, green, red, and NIR) and chlorophyll meter data were acquired on several dates during both seasons. Reflectance data were used to compute two vegetation indices, normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and a green version of NDVI. Hybrid treatments produced little effect on chlorophyll meter values or vegetation indices, while N application increased values by up to 33% for the chlorophyll meter, by up to15% for GNDVI, and by up to 5%for NDVI. GNDVI was more highly correlated with chlorophyll meter values than NDVI, with maximum correlations of 0.90 and 0.88 in 2000 and 2001, respectively. Our results suggest that the sensor system is capable of detecting variations in corn leaf chlorophyll content and could potentially be used in controlling an in-season N applicator.