Description
Because of the legume fixation capacity, their high protein content, digestibility and intake characteristics, more and more attention is paid to grassland clover content. In field experiments, clover content must often be determined, for example to quantify nitrogen flux or the best practices to manage such species (Stilmant et al., 2004). However hand sorting of clover and grass, even if accurate, is time-consuming and has a high labour cost. In comparison, accuracy of visual estimation of clover content, directly in the field, varies according to training and experience. Near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) has been proposed as a method for the rapid determination of sward botanical (Petersen et al., 1987; Pitman et al., 1991) and morphological composition (Leconte et al., 1999; Stilmant et al., 2005). This paper describes the performance of a NIRS calibration developed to characterise red clover (Trifolium pratense) content when associated to different grass species and this at different phenological stages.
Citation
Deprez, B.; Stilmant, D.; Clément, C.; Decamps, C.; and Peeters, A., "Prediction of Red Clover Content in Mixed Swards by Near-Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy" (2023). IGC Proceedings (1993-2023). 107.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/20/satellitesymposium4/107
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
Prediction of Red Clover Content in Mixed Swards by Near-Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy
Because of the legume fixation capacity, their high protein content, digestibility and intake characteristics, more and more attention is paid to grassland clover content. In field experiments, clover content must often be determined, for example to quantify nitrogen flux or the best practices to manage such species (Stilmant et al., 2004). However hand sorting of clover and grass, even if accurate, is time-consuming and has a high labour cost. In comparison, accuracy of visual estimation of clover content, directly in the field, varies according to training and experience. Near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) has been proposed as a method for the rapid determination of sward botanical (Petersen et al., 1987; Pitman et al., 1991) and morphological composition (Leconte et al., 1999; Stilmant et al., 2005). This paper describes the performance of a NIRS calibration developed to characterise red clover (Trifolium pratense) content when associated to different grass species and this at different phenological stages.
