Rh. Fox et al., USING A CHLOROPHYLL METER TO PREDICT NITROGEN-FERTILIZER NEEDS OF WINTER-WHEAT, Communications in soil science and plant analysis, 25(3-4), 1994, pp. 171-181
Although it has been shown that the nitrogen (N) concentration of wint
er wheat (Triticum aestivum L. em Thell) at Feeke's growth stage 5 (GS
5) can be used to assist in making more accurate spring N fertilizer
recommendations, the need remains to find a more convenient and accura
te means for predicting N fertilizer needs of wheat. We conducted seve
n N fertilizer response experiments over two years in central and sout
heastern Pennsylvania to determine if chlorophyll meter readings of wh
eat leaves at GS 5 could predict whether a significant, positive grain
yield response to N fertilizer would be obtained. The chlorophyll met
er readings at GS 5 were more accurate (correctly predicting response
to N fertilizer in 24 Of 25 treatments for a 4% error rate) than GS 5
plant N concentration (20% error rate). There were too few treatments
with a positive response to N fertilizer to be able to determine if ch
lorophyll meter readings could be used to accurately predict N fertili
zer rates needed for economic optimum yield.