Nondestructive and Rapid Estimation of Leaf Chlorophyll and Nitrogen Status of Peace Lily Using a Chlorophyll Meter

Abstract

Timely and nondestructive detection of leaf nitrogen (N) status could greatly improve nutrient management practices for greenhouse ornamental production. This study evaluated the feasibility of using a SPAD-502 chlorophyll meter for estimating leaf chlorophyll and nitrogen contents of the peace lily (Spathiphyllum Schott). Three cultivars ‘Claudia’, ‘Double Take’, and ‘Petite’ were grown in a soilless substrate and sub-irrigated with solutions containing N at 50, 100, 200, or 400 mg L⁻¹ through an ebb-and-flow system. The SPAD-502 chlorophyll meter was used to measure leaf greenness. Chlorophyll contents of leaves were also analyzed using the dimethyl sulphoxide extraction method. Total N was determined by a CNS Auto-Analyzer. Correlation analyses showed that coefficients (r ²) between SPAD values and leaf chlorophyll contents were 0.83, 0.77, and 0.73 for ‘Claudia’, ‘Double Take’, and ‘Petite’, respectively, and coefficients (r ²) between SPAD values and leaf N contents of ‘Claudia’, ‘Double Take’, and ‘Petite’ were 0.84, 0.82, and 0.91, respectively. These results suggest that the readings from a SPAD meter can be used for rapidly and nondestructively estimating leaf chlorophyll and N status of the peace lily. As high quality Spathiphyllum were produced at the N concentration of 200 mg L⁻¹, the corresponding SPAD values established in this study could facilitate in situ decision-making on N application for the production of the peace lily.

^#This research was supported by the Florida Agricultural Experiment Station and approved for publication as Journal Series No. R-09531.

Keywords:

• Chlorophyll meter
• Foliage plants
• N management
• SPAD-502 meter
• Spathiphyllum

Notes

^#This research was supported by the Florida Agricultural Experiment Station and approved for publication as Journal Series No. R-09531.