Foliar analysis using near infrared reflectance spectroscopy | CU Experts

Near infrared reflectance spectroscopy was evaluated as a method for measuring nitrogen and lignin content in foliage of native forest and prairie species. Near infrared reflectance spectra (1590 to 2357��nm) were obtained for 163 samples of dried green leaves and leaf litter from 18 deciduous and 2 coniferous tree species. Forty additional spectra were obtained from grass species. Reflectance (R) spectra were recorded as log (1/R) and transformed to the first and second derivative of log (1/R). Multiple linear regressions, predicting wet chemistry values based on near infrared reflectance spectra, yielded correlation coefficients of 0.98 for Kjeldahl nitrogen and 0.78 for lignin, with standard errors of 0.11% for nitrogen and 2.9% for lignin. Results suggest that near infrared reflectance spectroscopy is very effective for rapid (approximately 2 min per sample) determination of foliar lignin and nitrogen and should be considered for use as a routine analytical method.

VIVO