ISHS Acta Horticulturae 306: International Symposium on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, XXIII IHC
USE OF INFRARED THERMOMETRY TO MONITOR WATER STATUS IN PEPPERMINT (MENTHA X PIPERITA L.) |
| Authors: | B.H. Alkire, J.E. Simon |
| Abstract:
Significant differences (P<0.05) in foliage temperatures were detected in the crop canopies between irrigated and non-irrigated peppermint plants using a hand-held infrared thermometer. Day to day fluctuations in weather precluded infrared thermometry (IRT) from being useful as a practical tool in the prediction of water stress in the humid midwest USA summer climate. However, IRT was used to develop an empirical crop water stress index (CWSI) using a non-stressed transpirational lower baseline of peppermint according to the method of Idso (1981). This crop water stress index correlated with stem water potentials (r2= 0.704) as measured via a pressure chamber, but the canopy minus ambient air temperature (ΔT) data alone did not correlate (r2= 0.472) in part due to the small vapor pressure deficits in the field. Under favorable weather conditions, infrared thermometry shows promise as a rapid and non-destructive method to determine water stress in peppermint. | |
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