Dark Green Color Index as a Method of Real-time In-season Corn Nitrogen Measurement and Fertilization

Corn (Zea mays L.) requires higher rates of nitrogen fertilizer than any other major U.S. crop partly because N fertilizers are subject to loss through various mechanisms. Because of this, corn may suffer from inadequate nitrogen fertilization or producers may over-apply nitrogen to compensate for early-season nitrogen losses. A timely, accurate, and precise method for measuring in-season corn N status is needed to allow producers to keep nitrogen use efficiency high within a growing season. Using appropriate software, hue, saturation, and brightness values of digital images can be combined in a dark green color index (DGCI) which is closely associated with leaf nitrogen concentration. Our objectives were: (1) to develop quantitative relationships among yield, corn leaf nitrogen concentration, and DGCI measurements taken in the mid-vegetative stages of growth development;; and (2) to determine the amount of nitrogen to apply to recover yield based upon DGCI measurements on 6-leaf corn (V6). Various corn hybrids were planted across two years in Arkansas. A wide range of N applications were made at emergence and at V6 stage. SPAD, DGCI, and leaf nitrogen measurements were taken prior to V6 application and again at tasseling. Leaf nitrogen concentrations, DGCI, and SPAD were found to be closely associated. Crops with varying early-season N deficiencies demonstrated a non-linear, quadratic response to V6 N applications. Combining the responses of yield to V6 N application amounts with concurrent mid-season DGCI measurements allowed for the development of calibration equations. These calibrations equations allow corrective, mid-season N applications to be made based on an observed DGCI value, which allows for the recovery of 90 or 95% of the crop\u27s yield potential

System and method of in-season nitrogen measurement and fertilization of non-leguminous crops from digital image analysis

Systems and methods of determining nitrogen levels from a digital image and in-season nitrogen measurement and fertilization of non-leguminous crops from digital image analysis are disclosed. In particular, a method of determining leaf nitrogen concentration and yield from a digital photograph of a fully developed leaf (collared leaf) of a crop of non-legumes, such as corn, wheat, rice, cotton, potatoes sugarcane, turfgrass or forage grass species. The digital image is processed to determine a dark green color index ( DGCI ), which is closely related to leaf nitrogen concentration and yield. Standardized color disks having known DGCI values are included in the digital photograph and serve as an comparative standard. The comparative standard allows correction of DGCI of samples when using different cameras and/or when lighting conditions change. The DGCI values can then be used to determine the amount of nitrogen fertilizer that should be applied to recover crop yield potential

Design, simulation and testing of large area silicon drift detectors and detector array for X-ray spectroscopy

Large area (25 mm(2)) silicon drift detectors and detector arrays (5x5) have been designed, simulated, and fabricated for X-ray spectroscopy. On the anode side, the hexagonal drift detector was designed with self-biasing spiral cathode rings (p(+)) of fixed resistance between rings and with a grounded guard anode to separate surface current from the anode current. Two designs have been used for the P-side: symmetric self-biasing spiral cathode rings (p(+)) and a uniform backside p(+) implant. Only 3 to 5 electrodes are needed to bias the detector plus an anode for signal collection. With graded electrical potential, a sub-nanoamper anode current, and a very small anode capacitance, an initial FWHM of 1.3 keV, without optimization of all parameters, has been obtained for 5.9 keV Fe-55 X-ray at RT using a uniform backside detector

Design, simulation and testing of large area silicon drift detectors and detector array for X-ray spectroscopy

Large area (25 mm(2)) silicon drift detectors and detector arrays (5x5) have been designed, simulated, and fabricated for X-ray spectroscopy. On the anode side, the hexagonal drift detector was designed with self-biasing spiral cathode rings (p(+)) of fixed resistance between rings and with a grounded guard anode to separate surface current from the anode current. Two designs have been used for the P-side: symmetric self-biasing spiral cathode rings (p(+)) and a uniform backside p(+) implant. Only 3 to 5 electrodes are needed to bias the detector plus an anode for signal collection. With graded electrical potential, a sub-nanoamper anode current, and a very small anode capacitance, an initial FWHM of 1.3 keV, without optimization of all parameters, has been obtained for 5.9 keV Fe-55 X-ray at RT using a uniform backside detector

Soft x-ray magnetic scattering study of thin films and multilayers

A brief discussion of the resonant magnetic scattering process is given. Results from recent studies of thin Fe films and Fe/Gd multilayers are used as examples to demonstrate the information can be obtained and the unique features of this techniques: large resonant enhancement, sensitivity to magnitization, elemental specificity, and tunability of the penetration depth. Comparison is made with related techniques: magneto-optical Kerr effect, Faraday effect, and magnetic circular dichroism. 9 refs., 4 figs

Soft x-ray resonant magnetic scattering study of thin films and multilayers

A brief review of using soft x-ray resonant magnetic scattering in the study of magnetic thin films and multilayers is given. Results from recent studies of thin Fe films and Fe/Gd multilayers are used as examples to demonstrate the information can be obtained and the unique features of this technique. Comparison is also made with related techniques: magneto-optical Kerr effect, Faraday effect, and magnetic circular dichroism. 9 refs., 4 figs