Comparing the Use of Remote Sensing with Traditional Techniques to Detect Nitrogen Stress in Wheat

Abstract

An experiment was designed to compare ground‐based methods of nitrogen (N) stress detection with N stress detection using remote sensing. The study area, located in Minidoka, Idaho, is a 64 ha center pivot with a crop of Penawawa spring white wheat. Nitrogen was varied on four transects approximately 40 m wide and 805 m long. The N application rates chosen for the research were 0%, 40%, 100%, and 130% of normal. Nitrogen deficiency was quantified from tissue sampling, which was used as the response variable. Nitrogen was then measured or estimated at key stages in the wheat growth cycle using visual observation, a chlorophyll meter, and remotely‐sensed data. Visual observation was the normally‐employed method for area farmers. These methods of N stress detection were compared for accuracy, timeliness, usefulness, and cost. Remote sensing was comparable to the chlorophyll meter in accuracy. The chlorophyll meter was the timeliest method for obtaining a quantitative measurement.