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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Columbia, Missouri » Cropping Systems and Water Quality Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #216772
Title: Reflectance Sensors: How Stable Are the Values They Measure?

Author
item SCHARF, PETER - UNIVERISTY OF MISSOURI
item Sudduth, Kenneth - Ken
item HONG, NAN - MONSANTO
item OLIVEIRA, LUCIANE - UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI

Submitted to: ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/8/2007
Publication Date: 11/5/2007
Citation: Scharf, P., Sudduth, K.A., Hong, N., Oliveira, L. 2007. Reflectance Sensors: How Stable Are the Values They Measure? [abstract]. ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual International Meeting, November 4-8, 2007, New Orleans, Louisiana. p. 193-6.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Reflectance sensors have been shown to be sensitive to the nitrogen status of crops. Systems using these sensors to control real-time variable-rate N fertilizer applications have been developed. For these systems to accurately diagnose the N rate needed, any shift in sensor value over short time periods (less than a day) must not substantially alter the N rate recommended. Our objective was to evaluate how much reflectance values shifted over time and over changing environmental conditions for corn and cotton. Experiments were conducted with different sensors (Greenseeker, Crop Circle, Cropscan) in a stationary position over corn and cotton. Results for all sensors and both crops suggest that sensor values can shift enough during the course of a day to substantially alter N rates recommended. In some cases, the explanation for changing reflectance values is known: dew evaporation, or occurrence of rain. In other cases, no suitable explanation has been found at the time of abstract submission. We suggest that during fertilization of large fields, reflectance values of high-N reference areas should be re-measured periodically, especially when leaf wetness changes.