Co-Authors:
Alchanatis, V., Institute of Agricultural Engineering, ARO, The Volcani Center, P.O. Box 6, Bet Dagan 50250, Israel
Cohen, Y., Institute of Agricultural Engineering, ARO, The Volcani Center, P.O. Box 6, Bet Dagan 50250, Israel
Cohen, S., Institute of Soil, Water and Environmental Sciences, ARO, The Volcani Center, P.O. Box 6, Bet Dagan 50250, Israel
Moller, M., Institute of Soil, Water and Environmental Sciences, ARO, The Volcani Center, P.O. Box 6, Bet Dagan 50250, Israel
Sprinstin, M., The J. Blaustein Institute for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Sede-Boker Campus, 84990 Beersheba, Israel
Meron, M., Galilee Technology Center, Migal, P.O. Box 90000, Rosh Pinna 12100, Israel
Tsipris, J., Galilee Technology Center, Migal, P.O. Box 90000, Rosh Pinna 12100, Israel
Saranga, Y., Faculty of Agriculture, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
Sela, E., Institute of Agricultural Engineering, ARO, The Volcani Center, P.O. Box 6, Bet Dagan 50250, Israel, Faculty of Agriculture, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
Abstract:
Canopy temperature has long been recognized as an indicator of plant water status, therefore, a high-resolution thermal imaging system was used to map crop water status. Potential approaches for estimating crop water status from digital infrared images of the canopy were evaluated. The effect of time of day on leaf temperature measurements was studied: midday was found to be the optimal time for thermal image acquisition. Comparison between theoretical and empirical approaches for estimating leaf water potential showed that empirical temperature baselines were better than those obtained from energy balance equations. Finally, the effects of angle of view and spatial resolution of the thermal images were evaluated: water status was mapped by using angular thermal images. In spite of the different viewing angles and spatial resolution, the map provided a good representation of the measured leaf water potential. © Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2009.