Do in- and post-season plant-based measurements predict corn performance and/or residual soil nitrate?
Authors: Patrick Forrestal, Robert Kratochvil, John (Jack) Meisinger, Department or Program: PSLA Presented by: Patrick Forrestal Abstract: Plants demonstrate visual and physiological signals that are reflective of their growing conditions. These signals are being used to guide development of early season variable-rate fertilizer nitrogen (N) applications to corn (Zea mays, L.) using optical sensors. This project is examining whether monitoring these signals in-season can quantify residual soil nitrate following corn harvest. Corn was monitored in-season at growth stages R2, R3-R4 and R5 using a SPAD meter, an optical sensor and by green leaf counts. Data from all three measurement techniques was significantly correlated with corn relative yield and with each other. However, the relationship with residual soil nitrate for all three techniques was weak, reflecting the inability of these tools to characterize N fertility status of corn beyond the deficient to optimum range. Nevertheless,
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