Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment

A first comparison of Multiplex^® for the assessment of corn nitrogen status

Author(s):

Yongping Zhang ^{1, 2}, Nicolas Tremblay ^2*, Juanjuan Zhu ²

Recieved Date: 2011-11-18, Accepted Date: 2012-01-03

Abstract:

The Multiplex^® is a new hand-held optical fluorescence sensor for non-destructive measurement of various parameters representative of plant physiological status such as anthocyanin, flavonol and chlorophyll content as well as chlorophyll fluorescence emission ratio and UV (ultraviolet)- excited blue-green fluorescence (BGF). The Multiplex^® is of potential value for in-season assessment of crop nitrogen status, but no evaluation has been released for that matter. The objectives of this research were to establish the presence of significant relationships between Multiplex parameters, applied nitrogen rate and measurement dates in corn (Zea mays L.) in order to select the parameters of greatest interest, and to compare those selected Multiplex parameters with other recognized plant-based indicators: SPAD (chlorophyll meter), DUAD (Dualex reading from adaxial side of leaf) and NNI (nitrogen nutrition index). An experiment was conducted, which consisted of four nitrogen fertilization treatments with 0, 20, 50 (grower’s practice) and 255 kg N ha^-1 applied at sowing, and another treatment where straw was incorporated into the soil before sowing in order to stimulate N immobilization to maximize N deficiency. Statistical analysis of repeated measurement data showed that all Multiplex parameters measured from the leaf or from above the plant, from growth stages V2 to V6, were strongly influenced by applied N dose. The parameters FERARI (fluorescence excitation ratio anthocyanin relative index), SFR-G (simple fluorescence ratio under green excitation), SPAD/DUAD and SPAD were found to be reliable indicators for monitoring corn N status at early stages. 

Keywords:

Multiplex^®, nitrogen status, chlorophyll meter, diagnosis, Dualex, nitrogen nutrition index

---

Journal: Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment
Year: 2012
Volume: 10
Issue: 1
Category: Environment
Pages: 1008-1016

---

Full text for Subscribers

---

Information:

Note to users

The requested document is freely available only to subscribers/registered users with an online subscription to the Journal of Food, Agriculture & Environment. If you have set up a personal subscription to this title please enter your user name and password. All abstracts are available for free.

Article purchasing

If you like to purchase this specific document such as article, review or this journal issue, contact us. Specify the title of the article or review, issue, number, volume and date of the publication. Software and compilation, Science & Technology, all rights reserved. Your use of this website details or service is governed by terms of use. Authors are invited to check from time to time news or information.

---

Purchase this Article:   20 Purchase PDF Order Reprints for 15

---

Share this article :