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Remote Sensing for Site-Specific Management of Biotic and Abiotic Stress in Cotton

Nyland Falkenberg, Giovanni Piccinni, M.K. Owens, and Tom Cothren

ABSTRACT

This study evaluated the applicability of remote sensing instrumentation for site-specific management of abiotic and biotic stress on cotton grown under a center pivot. Three different irrigation regimes (100%, 75%, and 50% ETc) were imposed in the cotton field to: 1) monitor canopy temperatures of cotton with infrared thermometers (IRTs) to pinpoint areas of biotic and abiotic stresses, 2) compare aerial infrared photography to IRTs mounted on center pivots to correlate areas of biotic and abiotic stresses, and 3) to relate yield and yield parameters relative to canopy temperatures. Pivot mounted IRTs and IR cameras were able to differentiate water stress between the irrigation regimes. However, only the IR cameras were effectively able to distinguish between biotic (cotton root rot) and abiotic (drought) stresses with the assistance of ground-truthing. Cooler canopy temperatures were reflected in higher lint yields. The 50% ETc regime had significantly higher canopy temperatures, which were reflected in significantly lower lint yields when compared to the 75 and 100% ETc regimes. Deficit irrigation up to 75% ETc had no impact on yield, indicating that for this year water savings were possible without yield depletion. Canopy temperatures were effective in monitoring plant stress during the canopy development.





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Document last modified April 16, 2003