Knowledge of N accumulation during the vegetative growth stage of rice (Oryza sativa L.) is useful for determining the need for topdressing fertilizer N at panicle initiation and booting stage. The chlorophyll content showing SPAD threshold values gen...
Knowledge of N accumulation during the vegetative growth stage of rice (Oryza sativa L.) is useful for determining the need for topdressing fertilizer N at panicle initiation and booting stage. The chlorophyll content showing SPAD threshold values generated by a simple and portable diagnostic instrument, chlorophyll meter, enables implement the measures of greenness and/or relative chlorophyll contents of leaves. Two-year field experiment was conducted to evaluate the possible application of the chlorophyll meter for N diagnosis in transplanted paddy rice. The chlorophyll meter threshold values (SPAD reading) were taken from uppermost fully expanded leaves at 10days interval from 10 days after transplanting. SPAD readings and N contents of rice leaf blade were closely related at the maximum tillering stage. SPAD readings during growth period showed M-shaped distribution, sharply finished to drop at 20 days after heading date. As N fertilizer increased, the SPAD readings increased. The SPAD readings showed more critical and clear difference in immature paddy field than in ordinary paddy field, where the former soil showed higher response to N fertilizer topdressed. Based on the PAD readings for obtaining an optimum sink size bearing the maximum grain yield, N fertilizer to be dressed at the panicle initiation stage is to be adjusted within the SPA ×tillers value range 888 in ordinary paddy, and 800 in immature paddy vice. Among the cultivars tested, Huckhyangbyeo, Jinpumbyeo, Ansungbyeo, Sobibyeo, Manpungbyeo, Sangmibyeo, Jinbongbyeo, showed high SPAD values, whereas the cultivars, Nonghobyeo, Saechuchungbyeo, Hwabongbyeo, Mananbyeo, did low values and others intermediate SPAD threshhold values.