USE OF CVS FOR REFINING MID-SEASON FERTILIZATION NITROGEN-RATES IN WINTER WHEAT

The GreenSeeker? optical sensor is used as a management decision aid in many crops across the world. This sensor measures the normalized difference vegetative index (NDVI). It has been observed that when the by-plot coefficients of variation (CV) from the GreenSeeker? sensor NDVI readings in winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) was incorporated into the midseason calculation of the response index (RI), RI at harvest was better predicted than with NDVI alone. This study further evaluated the use of CV's collected from both small 1.48 m² and large 17.0 m² areas. Trials consisted of 3 seeding rates by 4 nitrogen rates. Results from this study showed that CV from NDVI readings and plant population were negatively correlated. Improved prediction of RI by utilizing CV was not found. It was however observed that when CV's were less than 5.0 and NDVI values were greater than 0.80 the RI was less than 1.2.