Development of a multispectral sensor for detection of nitrogen deficiency, drought stress and foliar diseases in winter wheat inclusively the deviation of a model based fertilizer strategy in real – time.

Agriculture is responsible for up to ten percent of all greenhouse gases emissions (CO₂, HNO₃ and CH₄) increases the natural greenhouse effect. Besides livestock farming, large amounts of CO₂ are released into the atmosphere during the production of nitrogen-containing fertilizers which can harm the environment by releasing N₂O to atmosphere or leaching nitrate to groundwater from soil if the fertilizer is not uptaken by crops. Against this backdrop we have to improve the nitrogen fertilizer application in case of timing and spatial application under consideration of soil parameters. This approach can contribute a significant reduction in nitrogen excesses especially on heterogeneous areas.

The aim of this study is to determine the plant status by using a new multispectral sensor technique which is able to detect nitrogen status, water deficit and leaf disease (septoria titici). These plant parameters are used under soil- and environmental consideration to develop a model based algorithm for site specific nitrogen fertilization recommendation in real-time.