Theses and Dissertations

Issuing Body

Mississippi State University

Advisor

Varco, Jac J.

Committee Member

Henry, W. Henry

Committee Member

Fox, Amelia Ann Amy

Committee Member

Cox, Michael S.

Date of Degree

12-13-2019

Document Type

Graduate Thesis - Open Access

Major

Plant and Soil Sciences (Agronomy)

Degree Name

Master of Science

College

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Department

Department of Plant and Soil Sciences

Abstract

Single-rate blanket application of fertilizer nitrogen (N) can result in an over or under application. Variable rate (VR) applications tailored to actual crop demands can improve N use efficiency in spatially variable soils. The objective of this study was to compare and improve relationships derived between corn canopy reflectance and corn N status acquired with two sensing platforms. Four fertilizer N rates were used, from deficient to excess, to create varying corn N status. Sensing and biophysical sampling was taken throughout the season for analysis and comparison to calculated vegetation indices (VIs). Results show strong relationships between VIs and corn N concentration and the strongest found using combined indices that incorporate the red-edge wavelength (720 nm). Relationships strengthened at latter growth stages. Results and models from this study demonstrate the utility of using remote sensing technologies to more accurately predict corn N status for eventual use in VR prescription development.

URI

https://hdl.handle.net/11668/16480

Comments

Corn||Variable Rate||Nitrogen||Remote Sensing||Vegetation Index

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