Vertical Heterogeneity Analysis of Biochemical Parameters in Oilseed Rape Canopy Based on Fast Chlorophyll Fluorescence Technology

Accurate acquisition of crop canopy biochemical information is of great significance for monitoring crop growth and guiding precise fertilization. Previous vertical distribution researches of crop biochemical information were mainly based on hyperspectral inversion, which was lack of the association of plant photosynthesis physiology. This study mainly investigated the vertical distribution characteristics of biochemical parameters such as chlorophyll, carotenoid, dry matter, and water content in the oilseed rape canopy under different nitrogen treatments at the mid-seedling stage. The photosynthetic performance of leaves was measured by using fast chlorophyll fluorescence technology, and linear regression and principal component analysis were further implemented to explore the internal relationship between fluorescence response and biochemical parameters. The results showed that: (1) The chlorophyll content, carotenoid content, dry matter and water content of the rape canopy at the mid-seedling stage all showed a parabolic vertical distribution, while the ratio of chlorophyll to carotenoids content gradually decreases with the leaf position and nitrogen treatments, which was the same as the vertical distribution pattern of fluorescence parameters such as driving force comprehensive performance (DFTotal) and end electron chain quantum yield (φRo) and other fluorescence parameters could be used to diagnose nitrogen stress; (2) JIP-test parameters, especially DFTotal, had a good performance to evaluate the chlorophyll/carotenoids, chlorophyll and dry matter content of oilseed rape leaves; (3) Nitrogen deficiency would weaken the PSII and PSI performance of oilseed rape leaves at the mid-seedling stage, and the maximum photochemical efficiency (φPo) could be used to diagnose nitrogen stress. There was a significant difference in the PSI performance, namely electron transfer efficiency at the end acceptors of leaves in the different leaf position, hence the comprehensive performance parameter DFTotal could be an effective characterization of the vertical heterogeneity of canopy biochemical parameters. These findings indicated the feasibility of applying the rapid chlorophyll fluorescence technology to crop biochemical information heterogeneity monitoring and provided new ideas and technical support for guiding precise fertilization and achieving high-quality and high-yield.