Scientists from the departments of agrochemistry and plant physiology of the Stavropol State Agrarian University (SSAU) have developed a unique for Russia method for assessing the physiological state of plants, which allows for online diagnostics right in the field. This is reported TASS with reference to the press service of the program of the Russian Ministry of Education and Science "Priority 2030".
The new technique is quick and comprehensive: with its help, agronomists can understand in a few hours what elements the plant lacks for full growth, provide recommendations for care and predict the optimal harvesting time.
“This kind of work is usually done in stationary laboratories. It is labor-intensive and energy-intensive,” the press service quotes the words of the acting rector of the Stavropol State Agrarian University Vladimir Sitnikov.
Non-invasive diagnostics of plants is carried out using special equipment - a PolyPen RP 410 NIR spectroradiometer with a GPS module. Before using this device, scientists determined its optimal frequencies, created a mathematical model that allows interpreting the state of the device, and at the final stage adapted the product to process incoming data.
The method for assessing the physiological state of plants was developed by SSAU scientists under the program of the Russian Ministry of Education and Science "Priority 2030" of the national project "Science and Universities".