Multispectral Reflectance of Cotton Related to Plant Growth, Soil Water and Texture, and Site Elevation

Radiometric data can be useful to determine the impact of field heterogeneity, irrigation, and fertilization on plant water and N use. A 2‐yr (1998–1999) study was conducted on the South Texas High Plains to investigate cotton ( Gossypium hirsutum L.) spectral and agronomic responses to irrigation and N fertilization and to determine the simple and cross correlation among cotton reflectance, plant growth, N uptake, lint yield, site elevation (SE), and soil water and texture. The treatments were irrigation at 50 and 75% of calculated cotton evapotranspiration (ET) and N rates of 0, 90, and 135 kg ha −1 arranged in an incomplete block of size‐2 design. Plant and soil spectral properties were investigated within a wavelength of 447 to 1752 nm. Near‐infrared (NIR) reflectance was positively correlated with plant biomass and N uptake. Reflectance in the red and midinfrared band increased with SE. The mixed‐model analysis showed that cotton NIR reflectance, normalized difference vegetative index (NDVI), soil water, N uptake, and lint yield were significantly affected by irrigation ( P < 0.0012). The N treatment had no effect on spectral parameters, and interaction between irrigation and N fertilizer was significant on NIR reflectance ( P < 0.0027). All spectral and agronomic parameters measured were associated with SE. The red and NIR reflectance and NDVI were cross‐correlated with soil water, sand, clay, and SE across a distance of 60 to 80 m. Characterization of plant and soil reflectance and their spatial structure can be the basis for variable N application on heterogeneous fields to increase N use efficiency.