Abstract
The spectral reflectivities above a forage canopy of plant populations were measured at seven wavelength bands between 417-800 nm under artificial light for determining the most effective spectral reflection characteristics applicable to the remote sensing of total chlorophyll content in a unit land area and leaf area index of a plant community. Model canopies for nine species (specific names were written in the legend of Fig. 2) were made in a laboratory with stems or branches. Fifty six kinds of indicies, which are seven spectral reflectivities, the reciprocals of them, and the ratios between any two spectral reflectivities, were chosen as spectral reflection characteristics. The regression analyses between these spectral reflection characteristics and total chlorophyll content in a unit land area and leaf area index of the model canopies were carried out. The obtained results showed that the effective spectral reflection characteristics was rNI/rR, where rNI and rR are spectral reflectivity at 800 nm and 660 nm, respectively.
