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Spectral methods for nitrogen deficiency evaluation in maize plants

S. L. APOSTOL1,* , R. M. ION2,3, L. TUGULEA4

Affiliation

  1. Physics Department, Faculty of Sciences and Arts, Valahia University, 24 Bd. Unirii, Targoviste, Romania
  2. Faculty of Material Engineering, Mecathronics and Robotics, Valahia University, 24 Bd. Unirii, Targoviste, Romania
  3. ICECHIM, Bucharest, 202 Splaiul Independentei, Bucharest-060021, Romania
  4. Department of Electricity and Biophysics, Faculty of Physics, University of Bucharest, 405, Atomistilor street, Magurele, 077125 Romania

Abstract

In this study the potential of spectral methods (absorption and emission in visible range) for discriminating a nitrogen deficiency in maize plants was investigated. Nitrogen (N) is an essential nutrient for crop production but also contributes to eutrophication of surface water and degradation of drinking water quality Modern corn production requires the inputs of large quantities of N since economic losses consecutive to reduced yields under low N status are substantial. Synchronizing N availability with crop N need offers the potential to protect the environment without sacrificing production. Plants were cultivated in controlled hydroponic solutions under four level of nitrogen. Nitrogen deficient plants are characterized by lower chlorophyll content and reduced biomass. Variable chlorophyll fluorescence as well as transmission measurements were used in order to compare the different plant treatments. The results show that both methods were able to sense the nitrogen deficient plants, therefore presenting a potential for further use in assigning crop nutrient need, in a modern agriculture..

Keywords

Chlorophyll, Fluorescence, Transmission, Nitrogen deficiency, Leaves.

Submitted at: Feb. 1, 2008
Accepted at: June 9, 2008

Citation

S. L. APOSTOL, R. M. ION, L. TUGULEA, Spectral methods for nitrogen deficiency evaluation in maize plants, Journal of Optoelectronics and Advanced Materials Vol. 10, Iss. 6, pp. 1478-1481 (2008)