Detection of calcium, magnesium, and chlorophyll variations of wheat genotypes on sodic soils using hyperspectral red edge parameters

Plants grown on sodic soils can suffer from macronutrient deficiencies, such as calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), and potassium (K), reducing health growth. Nutrient concentrations in plant tissue could potentially provide a signal to identify cultivars tolerant conditions. However, conventional approaches diagnosing crop nutrient chlorophyll status involve determining total elemental content tissues. These methods are time-consuming, tedious, expensive, requiring destructive sampling of parts complex laboratory analyses. Here, we propose novel approach using hyperspectral sensing determine variations/deficiencies 18 different wheat genotypes moderately (MS) highly (HS) soil conditions north-eastern Australia. Canopy reflectance was measured handheld spectroradiometer close flowering compute red edge spectral indices, normalized difference index (NDRE), inflection point (REIP), (Cl rededge). Plant Ca, Mg, K were also by young mature leaves followed analysis. The maximum first derivative spectra for observed at 722–728 nm 719–725 the MS HS site, respectively used REIP four-point linear interpolation method. Ca Mg had significant positive association with both NDRE, more closely correlated than either or K. associated (R2=0.72; RMSE=0.02 site R 2=0.57; site) NDRE. This suggests that has great potential detect structural variations environment. Furthermore, significantly (p<0.0001) positively Cl rededge sites R2=0.53 0.51 site. regulate leaf concentration and, turn, photosynthetic activities. Overall, results demonstrate be efficiently concentrations. study improves understanding genotypic variation tolerance levels optical properties structure beneficial science community developing new physiology.