Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is an important crop worldwide, with total world production of about 360 million metric ton. Potato yield and quality are very dependent on an adequate supply of nitrogen. The relatively shallow root system of the potato crop, coupled with its large nitrogen (N) requirement and sensitivity to water stress on coarse textured soil increases the risk of nitrate (NO 3 -N) leaching. Therefore, precise N management for potato is important, both for maximizing production and for minimizing N loss to groundwater. Therefore, with this dilemma, efficient monitoring of plant N status and appropriate N fertilizer management are essential to balance the increasing cost of N fertilizer, demand by the crop, and the need to minimize environmental damage, especially water quality.
['Feng Li', 'V. Alchanatis']
The potential of airborne hyperspectral images to detect leaf nitrogen content in potato fields