Use of remote sensing to determine the relationship of early vigour to grain yield in canola (Brassica napus L.) germplasm
R. B. Cowley A B , D. J. Luckett A E , J. S. Moroni A C and S. Diffey D
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation (an alliance between NSW Department of Primary Industries and Charles Sturt University), Agricultural Institute, Pine Gully Road, Wagga Wagga, NSW 2650, Australia.
B Current address: DuPont Pioneer, PO Box 52, Wagga Wagga, NSW 2650, Australia.
C Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation, School of Agricultural and Wine Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Boorooma Street, Wagga Wagga, NSW 2678, Australia.
D National Institute for Applied Statistics Research Australia (NIASRA), School of Mathematics and Applied Statistics, University of Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia.
E Corresponding author. Email: david.luckett@dpi.nsw.gov.au
Crop and Pasture Science 65(12) 1288-1299 https://doi.org/10.1071/CP14055
Submitted: 6 February 2014 Accepted: 25 July 2014 Published: 5 November 2014
Abstract
Early crop vigour in canola, as in other crops, is likely to result in greater competition with weeds, more rapid canopy closure, improved nutrient acquisition, improved water-use efficiency, and, potentially, greater final grain yield. Laborious measurements of crop biomass over time can be replaced with newer remote-sensing technology to aid data acquisition. Normalised difference vegetation index (NDVI) is a surrogate for biomass accumulation that can be recorded rapidly and repeatedly with inexpensive equipment. In seven small-plot field experiments conducted over a 4-year period with diverse canola germplasm (n = 105), we have shown that NDVI measures are well correlated with final grain yield. We found NDVI values were most correlated with yield (r >0.7) if readings were taken when the crop had received 210–320 growing degree-days (usually the mid-vegetative phase of growth). It is suggested that canola breeders may use NDVI to objectively select for vigorous genotypes that are more likely to have higher grain yields.
Additional keywords: Brassica napus, rapeseed, NDVI, crop growth, GreenSeeker.
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