Spectral reflectance, growth and chlorophyll relationships for rice crop in a semi-arid region of India

Relations among spectral reflectance, chlorophyll 'a', and growth of rice plants grown on irrigated light textured soil in a semi arid region are presented here. There was a linear relation between spectral reflectance and rice plant height (r = 0.97), for band 1 (0.45-0.52 mu m) reflectance values. On the other hand, in bands 2 (0.52-0.60 mu m) and 3 (0.63-0.69 mu m), reflectance values decreased until 70 days after planting (DAP) and then increased during the reproductive phase of the crop. The near infrared band 4 (0.76-0.90 mu m) showed a maximum reflectance at 59 DAP (panicle initiation stage) and a decline in reflectance thereafter through maturity. The peak value of IR/R ratio was 16.39 at 62 DAP during the early reproductive phase; thereafter, it declines gradually with the maturity of the crop. Chlorophyll 'a' concentration was high during early growth (vegetative and early reproductive stages) and decreased during the flowering and maturity stages. The rice plant canopy show a high chlorophyll 'a' concentration at 64 and 59 DAP for sites A and B, respectively. Chlorophyll 'a' concentration is higher in site A plant canopies than it is in site B during the entire crop cycle. A good inverse correlation (r = 0.91) has been found between chlorophyll 'a' and band 1, while the IR/R ratio and the normalised difference vegetation index (NDVI) showed a relationship (r = 0.78) with the chlorophyll 'a' concentration during the crop cycle. Band 2, 3 and 4 radiance values show a biphasic linear relationship with chlorophyll 'a' concentrations, negative for early growth and positive for flowering and maturity stages. Results indicate that the period between 66 to 70 DAP is most suitable for the assessment of rice crop yield, based on chlorophyll 'a' concentration.