Non-invasive optical methods (spectrometry, thermal imaging) when determining nitrogen deficiency and the physiological state of wheat in the field conditions

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Abstract

The reflection spectra and leaf surface temperature were measured in a field experiment when growing wheat of the Daria variety in the field conditions of the Menkovo experimental station of the Agrophysical Research Institute. The plants were vegetated at different levels of nitrogen nutrition (0–200 kg/ha in increments of 40 kg/ha). Fertilizers were applied in 2 stages: 2/3 of the dose of nitrogen (nitrogen strip) before sowing and 1/3 (ammonium nitrate) at the stage of completion of tillering. The analysis of the diffuse reflection indices of the leaf surface revealed a close positive relationship between the chlorophyll index (ChlRI) and a close negative relationship between the photochemical reflection index (PRI) and the dose of nitrogen fertilizers applied at the early stages of nitrogen deficiency, when there are no visible symptoms of plant oppression. The reflection indices SIPI, R800, ARI and FRI, in addition to assessing the nitrogen supply of plants, can be useful in assessing the specific response of plants to the action of various stressors, for example, to a deficiency of soil moisture or a lack of soil nitrogen. The use of thermal imaging made it possible to assess the transpiration activity of wheat plants depending on the level of nitrogen nutrition and its change during the day.

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About the authors

Dmitryi V. Rusakov

Agrophysical Research Institute

Author for correspondence.
Email: rdv_vgsha@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0001-8753-4440

Candidate of Sciences in Agriculture, Senior Researcher

Russian Federation, Saint-Petersburg

Elena V. Kanash

Agrophysical Research Institute

Email: ykanash@yandex.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-8214-8193

Doctor of Sciences in Biology, Chief Researcher

Russian Federation, Saint-Petersburg

Yuriy V. Chesnokov

Agrophysical Research Institute

Email: yuv_chesnokov@agrophys.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-1134-0292

Corresponding Member of RAS, Doctor of Sciences in Biology, Director

Russian Federation, Saint-Petersburg

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2. Fig. 1. Chlorophyll reflectance index (ChlRI) of wheat leaves depending on the dose of applied nitrogen fertilizers. The ChlRI values ​​obtained at the stages of tillering (ChlRIk), tube emergence (ChlRIт), flowering (ChlRIц) and milk ripeness (ChlRIмs) are given.

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3. Fig. 2. Photochemical reflectance index (PRImod) of wheat leaves depending on the dose of applied nitrogen fertilizers. The PRImod values ​​obtained at the tillering (PRIk), booting (PRIt), flowering (PRIc) and milk ripeness (PRIms) stages are presented.

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4. Fig. 3. Visible and infrared image of the vegetation cover formed by spring wheat plants of the Darya variety at the BBCN stage 25–27 – completion of tillering at a dose of nitrogen fertilizers N0 (upper row), N80 (middle row) and N160 (lower row)

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5. Fig. 4. Correlation dependence between the temperature of the wheat vegetation cover and the dose of nitrogen fertilizers applied in the morning hours (10 am). The linear regression equation and the determination coefficient are given. The reliability of the linear relationship is p = 0.0001

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6. Fig. 5. Correlation dependence between the temperature of the wheat vegetation cover and the dose of nitrogen fertilizers applied during daylight hours (14 h). The linear regression equation and the determination coefficient are given. The reliability of the linear relationship is p = 0.024

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