Laser-Induced Chlorophyll Fluorescence Measurements for Detecting the Nitrogen Status of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Canopies

The objective of this study was to assess the suitability of laser-induced chlorophyll fluorescence measurements to detect the nitrogen (N) supply of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) at canopy level under ambient conditions. In 2002, a plot trial was carried out as a randomised block design. Increasing amounts of N fertiliser were applied to induce variations in the N uptake of the canopies. Different cultivars with varying growth habit and leaf colour were chosen to cover a wide range of canopy characteristics. Biomass was harvested at characteristic growth stages to determine aboveground dry matter yield, N concentration in dry matter and N uptake. Measurements with a hand-held chlorophyll sensor showed a strong correlation between the sensor signal and the N uptake thus indicating that the system is suitable for assessing the nutritional status of the plants. A clear differentiation between the N treatments was evident even at the beginning of stem elongation. The cultivar and the growth stage significantly influenced the sensor signal. Both factors need to be considered when predicting the N uptake of the canopy using laser-induced chlorophyll fluorescence measurements.