Use Of And Optical Sensor (Greenseeker): An Innovative Tool For Screening Germplasm, Predicting Biomass And Grain Yield And Management Of Fertilizer Nitrogen

Abstract

The normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) is a useful indicator indirectly obtaining information on crops such as photosynthetic efficiency (Aparicio et al., 2002), productivity potential, and potential yield (Peñuelas et al., 1994; Thenkabail et al., 2000; Ma et al., 2001; Raun et al., 2001; Báez-González et al., 2002). The agronomic vegetation index (NDVI) is also sensitive to leaf area index and green biomass (Peñuelas et al., 1994). Raun et al. (2001 and 2002) found a strong relationship between actual grain yield in winter wheat and the expected yield as determined from NDVI. The GreenSeeker optical sensor has also been shown to be an important tool for efficient management of fertilizer nitrogen (N), analyzing spatial variability and factors limiting production (Goeverts et al 2006; 2007).