Feasibility study on the use of Near Infrared spectroscopy to measure water status of almond trees

Abstract

Climate change predictions of increasing CO2 concentration, temperature and a decline in water availability for irrigation have prompted research to develop rapid and accurate plant-based monitoring tools to help assess plant performance under environmental stresses. In this study, an adaptation of Near Infrared (NIR) spectroscopy was investigated as a rapid and non-destructive method to estimate water status of almond trees. Leaves from 12 almond cross-lines were scanned using an ASD FieldSpec® 3 (350-1850 nm) spectrophotometer (Analytical Spectral Devices, Boulder, Co, USA) and then destructively measured using a pressure chamber to obtain stem water potential (Ψstem). All calibrations wer..