Quantifying nitrogen status of corn (Zea mays L.) in the field by reflectance measurements

Nutrient deficiencies can seriously reduce yield and economic returns to farmers. Tools that can rapidly quantify the nutritional status of plants are needed for efficient fertilizer management. Reflectance measurements have shown to be a useful tool to identify the nutritional status of different plant species. A set of calibration curves relating reflectance ratios to the nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), magnesium (Mg), and iron (Fe) concentrations in corn leaves was established in greenhouse trials in a previous study. In this paper these calibrations were examined for their ability to identify nutrient deficiencies under field conditions. A 2-year field experiment was conducted to check and define the regions of the spectra that are influenced by leaf N concentration and to set up possible equations for quantifying the leaf N status in the field. The experiment was carried out on a loess derived soil in south-western Germany. Reflectance of corn leaves, from plants grown with six different N fertilization treatments ranging from 0 to 160 N kg ha⁻¹, was determined once a week from the beginning of June until the end of July. Reflectance measurements were performed at the 4th leaf of corn plants with a digital LEICA S1 Pro camera under controlled light conditions. Reflectance was measured in different wavelength ranges in the visible and infrared spectra. Leaf scans were evaluated within the L*a*b*-color system. Total N concentration of corn leaves was determined chemically and correlated with reflectance patterns. Significant correlations between corn N status and leaf reflectance changes were obtained at a nitrogen level of N<3.0%. Reflectance patterns at 510₇₈₀, 516₁₃₀₀, 540₁₃₀₀ nm were found most suitable to the corn N status in the field regardless of the year or sampling date. The results indicate that the spectral patterns and the defined calibration curves of N deficiency from greenhouse studies could be used in field studies. Thus, reflectance measurements may serve as a rapid, non-destructive approach to discriminate nitrogen deficiency in the field.     

Genotype × cropping system interaction in climbing beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) grown as sole crop and in association with maize (Zea mays L.)

The selection of cultivars for the predominant cropping systems of small farms in the tropics depends to a large extent on the information obtained by testing their performance across the different systems. The main objective of this experiment was to measure the genotype × cropping system (G × CS) interaction for yield and selected agronomic traits of climbing beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) grown as sole crop and intercropped with two morphologically contrasting maize (Zea mays L.) cultivars. A secondary objective was to identify the most efficient and productive bean–maize intercrop combinations. Seven climbing bean genotypes were grown as sole crop and intercropped with two maize varieties, BH 140 (Mix. 1) and Guto (Mix. 2), in a factorial arranged Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications at Bako Agricultural Research Center in western Ethiopia. Main effects due to genotype and cropping system (except days to flowering) were significant for all bean traits considered. The genotypes × cropping system interaction terms were also significant for the number of seeds per pod, 100-seed weight, harvest index and seed yield. While bean seed yield significantly correlated with the number of seeds per pod (in Mix. 1) and with harvest index (in both mixtures), positive and significant correlations occurred with the number of pods per plant and 100-seed weight under sole cropping system. The correlation between bean seed yields of Mix. 1 and Mix. 2 and between Mix. 2 and sole crop were positive and significant. No such relationship was found between Mix. 1 and sole crop. The results suggest that selection of suitable climbing bean cultivars for intercropping with maize varieties predominantly grown in the area should be made under the associated culture of the two crops. Intercropping contributed to a significant reduction in seed yield of the bean genotypes due mainly to its adverse effects on the numbers of pods per plant and seeds per pod. The index tLER₁ identified most bean–maize genotype combinations of Mix. 2 as biologically more efficient system than Mix. 1. On the other hand, tLER₂ values of more than 1.00 for all treatments of Mix. 2 demonstrated higher overall productivity of the intercrop system when the bean genotypes were grown in association with a late-maturing and high yielding maize hybrid BH 140.