Evaluating temporal variability in the spectral reflectance response of annual ryegrass to changes in nitrogen applications and leaching fractions

A two‐year study was conducted in 2002 and 2003 at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas's center for urban water conservation to assess canopy spectral response of annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) grown under various combinations of N and irrigation (based on leaching fraction: LF) treatments. Multispectral measurements were acquired using a ground‐based spectroradiometer (200–1100 nm) on a biweekly basis during the growing season (October–May) in 2002 and 2003. Multispectral parameters were correlated with soil–plant parameters and temporal variability was investigated. Results showed that the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), stress index (SI), photochemical reflectance index (PRI) and canopy reflectance at 693 nm, were highly correlated with tissue N concentration (TN), tissue moisture content (TM), TN×TM and canopy colour, as influenced by N and LF treatment combinations. Coefficients of determination ranged from 0.50 to 0.79 (P<0.001) based on single‐day correlations and correlat...