Using hyperspectral plant traits linked to photosynthetic efficiency to assess N and P partition

Abstract

Spatial prediction of photosynthesis requires an understanding of how foliage nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) regulate this process and the relationship between these elements and scalable spectral proxies. Hyperspectral imagery has been used to predict important photosynthetic variables such as the maximum rate of carboxylation (Vcmax) and electron transport (Jmax). However, our understanding of how generally applicable these relationships are for plants that are limited by N and P, characterised by respective mass based ratios of N/P ≤ 10 and N/P > 10, is still incomplete as most studies assume N and P co-limit photosynthesis. Hyperspectral imagery and measurements of photosynthesis were ..