Evaluation of the Amount of Nitrogen Top Dressing Based on Ground-based Remote Sensing for Leaf Perilla (Perilla frutescens) under the Polytunnel House

This study was conducted to evaluate the amount of nitrogen (N) top dressing based on the normalized difference vegetation indices (NDVI) by ground based sensors for leaf perilla under the polyethylene house. Experimental design was the randomized complete block design for five N fertilization levels and conventional fertilization with 3 and 4 replications in Gumsan-gun and Milyang-si field, respectively. Dry weight (DW), concentration of N, and amount of N uptake by leaf perilla as well as NDVIs from sensors were measured monthly. Difference of growth characteristics among treatments in Gumsan field was wider than Milyang. SPAD-502 chlorophyll meter reading explained 43.4% of the variability in N content of leaves in Gumsan field at $150^{th}$ day after seedling (DAS) and 45.9% in Milyang at $239^{th}$ DAS. Indexes of red sensor (RNDVI) and amber sensor (ANDVI) at $172^{th}$ day after seedling (DAS) in Gumsan explained 50% and 57% of the variability in N content of leaves. RNDVI and ANDVI at $31^{th}$ DAS in Milyang explained 60% and 65% of the variability in DW of leaves. Based on the relationship between ANDVI and N application rate, ANDVI at $172^{th}$ DAS in Gumsan explained 57% of the variability in N application rate but non significant relationship in Milyang field. Average sufficiency index (SI) calculated from ratio of each measurement index per maximum index of ANDVI at $172^{th}$ DAS in Gumsan explained 73% of the variability in N application rate. Although the relationship between NDVIs and growth characteristics was various upon growing season, SI by NDVIs of ground based remote sensors at top dressing season was thought to be useful index for recommendation of N top dressing rate of leaf perilla.