Determination of Forage Chemical Composition Using Remote Sensing

Abstract Traditional forage nutrient analysis from bench-top near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) or common laboratory chemical procedures provides accurate, point-based information, but often does not provide it in a timely way to allow changes in forage or animal management. The objective of this study is to determine the feasibility of estimating concentrations of nitrogen, neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and acid detergent fiber (ADF) of live, standing forages using a hand-held hyperspectral spectroradiometer (radiometer), and to compare these estimates to values determined via NIRS and laboratory chemical methods. Calibration equations were developed from canopy reflectance measurements from monocultures of Bermuda grass and then applied to a test data set to predict N, NDF, and ADF. Statistical analyses showed that forage composition estimates from the radiometer were equivalent to those from the NIRS. Such a remote-sensing approach would enable real-time assessment of forage quality, would allow mapping of the nutritional landscape, could be used as a tool to better manage pastures and supplements, and would assist in making harvesting decisions.

[1]  C. Wessman,et al.  Remote sensing of canopy chemistry and nitrogen cycling in temperate forest ecosystems , 1988, Nature.

[2]  The application of near infra-red spectrometry to forage evaluation in the Agricultural Development and Advisory Service. , 1990 .

[3]  James H. Everitt,et al.  Radiometric estimation of biomass and nitrogen content of Alicia grass , 1983 .

[4]  R. Barnes,et al.  Standard Normal Variate Transformation and De-Trending of Near-Infrared Diffuse Reflectance Spectra , 1989 .

[5]  David L. Peterson,et al.  Multivariate analysis of AVIRIS data for canopy biochemical estimation along the oregon transect , 1994 .

[6]  B. Yoder,et al.  Predicting nitrogen and chlorophyll content and concentrations from reflectance spectra (400–2500 nm) at leaf and canopy scales , 1995 .

[7]  P. Goedhart.  Comparison of multivariate calibration methods for prediction of feeding value by near infrared reflectance spectroscopy. , 1990 .

[8]  John S. Shenk,et al.  Population Definition, Sample Selection, and Calibration Procedures for Near Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy , 1991 .

[9]  D. C. Church.  Livestock feeds and feeding , 1977 .

[10]  William D. Philpot,et al.  Spectral detection of micronutrient deficiency in 'Bragg' soybean. , 2000 .

[11]  D. H. Card,et al.  Remote sensing of forest canopy and leaf biochemical contents , 1988 .

[12]  Darrel L. Williams,et al.  High-spectral resolution field and laboratory optical reflectance measurements of red spruce and eastern hemlock needles and branches , 1994 .

[13]  P. J. Van Soest,et al.  Determination of lignin and cellulose in acid-detergent fiber with permanganate. , 1968 .

[14]  W. Horwitz.  Official Methods of Analysis , 1980 .

[15]  William J. Collins,et al.  Confirmation of the airborne biogeophysical mineral exploration technique using laboratory methods , 1983 .

[16]  J. Shenk,et al.  Predicting Forage Quality by Infrared Replectance Spectroscopy , 1976 .

[17]  P. V. Soest,et al.  Methods for dietary fiber, neutral detergent fiber, and nonstarch polysaccharides in relation to animal nutrition. , 1991, Journal of dairy science.

[18]  P. V. Soest,et al.  Estimation of the true digestibility of forages by the in vitro digestion of cell walls. , 1966 .