title: Normalized Difference Vegetation Index as a tool for wheat yield estimation: a case study from Faisalabad, Pakistan.
abstract: For estimation of grain yield in wheat, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) is considered as a potential screening tool. Field experiments were conducted to scrutinize the response of NDVI to yield behavior of different wheat cultivars and nitrogen fertilization at agronomic research area, University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF) during the two years 2008-09 and 2009-10. For recording the value of NDVI, Green seeker (Handheld-505) was used. Split plot design was used as experimental model in, keeping four nitrogen rates (N1 = 0 kg ha(-1), N2 = 55 kg ha(-1), N3 = 110 kg ha(-1), and N4 = 220 kg ha(-1)) in main plots and ten wheat cultivars (Bakkhar-2001, Chakwal-50, Chakwal-97, Faisalabad-2008, GA-2002, Inqlab-91, Lasani-2008, Miraj-2008, Sahar-2006, and Shafaq-2006) in subplots with four replications. Impact of nitrogen and difference between cultivars were forecasted through NDVI. The results suggested that nitrogen treatment N4 (220 kg ha(-1)) and cultivar Faisalabad-2008 gave maximum NDVI value (0.85) at grain filling stage among all treatments. The correlation among NDVI at booting, grain filling, and maturity stages with grain yield was positive (R(2) = 0.90; R(2) = 0.90; R(2) = 0.95), respectively. So, booting, grain filling, and maturity can be good depictive stages during mid and later growth stages of wheat crop under agroclimatic conditions of Faisalabad and under similar other wheat growing environments in the country.
authors.affiliation: University College of Agriculture, University of Sargodha, Sargodha 40100, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Syeda Refat
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Sultana
authors.affiliation: University College of Agriculture, University of Sargodha, Sargodha 40100, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Amjed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.affiliation: Agro-Climatology Laboratory, Department of Agronomy, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad 38040, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Ashfaq
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.affiliation: Agro-Climatology Laboratory, Department of Agronomy, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad 38040, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Muhammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mubeen
authors.affiliation: The Patent Office, Karachi 74400, Pakistan.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zia-Ul-Haq
authors.affiliation: Department of Agronomy, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan 60800, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Shakeel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.affiliation: Department of Horticulture, Ataturk University, 25240 Erzurum, Turkey.
authors.forename: Sezai
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ercisli
authors.affiliation: Department of Crop Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University Putra Malaysia, 43400 Selangor, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Hawa Z E
authors.initials: HZ
authors.lastname: Jaafar
mesh_terms: D009584:Nitrogen / Q000494:pharmacology; D010154:Pakistan; D014908:Triticum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development*
chemical_list: D009584:Nitrogen