Changes in the Hyperspectral Characteristics of Wheat Plants According to N Top-dressing Rates at Various Growth Stages

Recently, wheat consumption has been increasing in Korea, requiring increased production. Nitrogen fertilization is a critical determinant in crop yield; therefore, it is necessary to optimize the nitrogen fertilization regime with current trends that emphasize the minimum impact of nitrogen fertilizer on the environment. In this study, both nondestructive spectral analysis using a hyperspectral camera and growth analysis were performed to determine the optimal N top-dressing rates after heading. The nitrogen application regimes consisted of three conditions according to the secondary top-dressing rate: N4:3:0 (0 kg 10 a ), N4:3:3 (2.73 kg 10 a-1), and N4:3:6 (5.46 kg 10 a -1). Subsequently, growth and physiological investigations were performed at the jointing, heading, and ripening stages of wheat, and spectral investigations were conducted. On April 29, as the nitrogen fertilization rate was increased to N4:3:3 and N4:3:6, plant height and grain yield increased by 4% and 8%, and 8% and 52%, respectively, compared to those under N4:3:0. Leaf area index and SPAD value also increased by 13% and 24%, and 32% and 43%, respectively. The R (red), G (green), and B (blue) of leaf color were lowered by 15, 11, and 4 in N4:3:3 and 44, 34, and 18 in N4:3:6, respectively, as compared to the control. Grain yield was the highest at high top-dressing (N4:3:6), however, there was no difference between no top-dressing (N4:3:0) and intermediat top-dressing (N4:3:3). The reflectance analyzed using a hyperspectral camera showed a difference in the near-infrared (NIR) region on March 19, and on April 29, there was a difference both in the visible light region greater than 550 nm and the NIR region. Vegetation indices differed according to fertilization regime, except for the greenness index (GI). The results of this study showed that not only growth and physiological analysis but also spectral indices can be used to optimize the nitrogen top-dressing rate.