New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research abstracts

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Evaluation of variable-rate nitrogen recommendation of winter wheat based on SPAD chlorophyll meter measurement

Zhao Chunjiang¹

Jiang Aning^1,2

Huang Wenjiang^1,*

Liu Keli²

Liu Liangyun¹

Wang Jihua¹

¹National Engineering Research Center for Information Technology in Agriculture
Room 519
Beijing Agricultural Science Mansion, Building
Banjing, Haidian district
Beijing, 1 7
PR China

²Inner Mongolia Agricultural UniversityHuhhot
01 0019, China

^*Author for correspondence: yellowstar0618@163.com

Abstract    To develop a time-specific and time-critical spatial variable rate nitrogen application (VRN) method and to overcome the limitations of traditional field sampling methods, this study focused on the relationship between SPAD chlorophyll meter readings and nitrogen content in leaves in order to determine the amount of nitrogen fertilisation required for agricultural objectives. Field experiments were conducted in three wheat growth duration stages from 2003 to 2006. Grain yields and soil NO₃-N contents were measured in all plots. Our results indicated that VRN technology reduced wheat yield spatial variability. The benefits of VRN included low soil residual NO₃-N content and NO₃-N leaching potential, suggesting that VRN technology based on SPAD readings can potentially reduce groundwater pollution and therefore protect our limited environmental resources.

Keywords    precision agriculture; SPAD readings; variable rate nitrogen application (VRN); winter wheat

A07085; Online publication date 21 December 2007; Received and accepted 10 August 2007

New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research, 2007, Vol. 50: 735–741
0028–8233/07/5005–0735 © The Royal Society of New Zealand 2007

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