Murray State University
Plant Breeding, Pest Control, and Remote Sensing to Improve Dark Tobacco Production: Study 3: Normalized Difference Vegatative Index (NDVI) in Tobacco as Affected by Nitrogen Fertilizer Rates
Institution
Murray State University
Faculty Advisor/ Mentor
David Ferguson; Robert Miller; Robert Hill; Whitney Peake; William Bailey; Iin Handayani
Abstract
Nitrogen (N) is well known for being the primary nutrient for tobacco growth and production. Therefore, the study of N fertilizer effects on dark-fired and burley tobacco yields needs to be performed. Recently, limited research has been done to determine the impacts of N applications on NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetative Index). NDVI is commonly used to measure plant health and vigor. In this study, GreenSeeker is used to determine the NDVI. GreenSeeker emits and captures infrared and near infrared beams of light that measure the color of crop plants, then delivers, in a fraction of a second, the amount of fertilizer needed for maximum yield. Therefore, the objective of this study is to observe NDVI from GreenSeeker under various N rates applied to burley and dark-fired tobacco. The tobacco used in this experiment was transplanted on June 9 and 10, 2009. The varieties were PD7318 dark and TN90 burley. Phosphorus and Potassium were applied prior to transplanting. Nitrogen fertilizer (34-0-0) was applied on June 15th. The N treatments were as follows: Treatment 1: control plot (no N application), Treatment 2 (100 lbs N/acre), Treatment 3 (200 lbs N/acre), Treatment 4 (300lbs N/acre), and Treatment 5 (400 lbs N/acre). Each treatment has four dark-fired tobacco and four burley tobacco plots. NDVI data from GreenSeeker was collected on July 7, 15, and 22, 2009. Results from this experiment will be discussed in the poster.
Plant Breeding, Pest Control, and Remote Sensing to Improve Dark Tobacco Production: Study 3: Normalized Difference Vegatative Index (NDVI) in Tobacco as Affected by Nitrogen Fertilizer Rates
Nitrogen (N) is well known for being the primary nutrient for tobacco growth and production. Therefore, the study of N fertilizer effects on dark-fired and burley tobacco yields needs to be performed. Recently, limited research has been done to determine the impacts of N applications on NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetative Index). NDVI is commonly used to measure plant health and vigor. In this study, GreenSeeker is used to determine the NDVI. GreenSeeker emits and captures infrared and near infrared beams of light that measure the color of crop plants, then delivers, in a fraction of a second, the amount of fertilizer needed for maximum yield. Therefore, the objective of this study is to observe NDVI from GreenSeeker under various N rates applied to burley and dark-fired tobacco. The tobacco used in this experiment was transplanted on June 9 and 10, 2009. The varieties were PD7318 dark and TN90 burley. Phosphorus and Potassium were applied prior to transplanting. Nitrogen fertilizer (34-0-0) was applied on June 15th. The N treatments were as follows: Treatment 1: control plot (no N application), Treatment 2 (100 lbs N/acre), Treatment 3 (200 lbs N/acre), Treatment 4 (300lbs N/acre), and Treatment 5 (400 lbs N/acre). Each treatment has four dark-fired tobacco and four burley tobacco plots. NDVI data from GreenSeeker was collected on July 7, 15, and 22, 2009. Results from this experiment will be discussed in the poster.