www.greenmediaonline.com Green Media / August 2014 19
information, and if so-equipped will even record GPS
information.
More computer tools. Recording, analyzing, and in-
terpreting canopy refl ectance data is dependent on com-
puter software and training. At the moment the tools are
research tools; widespread use of the techniques in indus-
try will require computer tools that assist in the analysis
and interpretation.
The tools and techniques are powerful, the equipment
is easy to use and becoming more and more affordable
all the time (currently low four fi gures for the equip-
ment we use in research), and worth keeping an eye on
if you're a turfgrass manager. Someday in the not-too-
distant future you may be sending your crew out to take
routine canopy refl ectance readings of your turf, and
using the data to make your job easier.
■
Dr. Ken Carey is a technician with the Department of Plant
Agriculture, University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada.
Figure 11. Association between soil moisture (volumetric water
content – VWC) and canopy refl ectance in wetting agent trial.
Figure 12. Association between localized dry spot (rated visually)
and canopy refl ectance in wetting agent trial.
Figure 13. Dollar spot disease on inoculated and uninoculated
plots.
Figure 14. Association between canopy refl ectance and dollar
spot disease levels in trial plots.
Jim Scova
914-368-1012
jscova@meritdirect.com
