Register      Login
Crop and Pasture Science Crop and Pasture Science Society
Plant sciences, sustainable farming systems and food quality
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Use of Vis–NIR reflectance data and regression models to estimate physiological and productivity traits in lucerne (Medicago sativa)

M. Garriga https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0176-653X A C , C. Ovalle B , S. Espinoza B , G. A. Lobos A and A. del Pozo A C
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Centro de Mejoramiento Genético y Fenómica Vegetal, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Universidad de Talca, Talca, Chile.

B Instituto de Investigaciones Agropecuarias, Chile.

C Corresponding author. Email: adelpozo@utalca.cl; mgarriga@utalca.cl

Crop and Pasture Science 71(1) 90-100 https://doi.org/10.1071/CP19182
Submitted: 2 May 2019  Accepted: 8 September 2019   Published: 31 January 2020

Abstract

Lucerne (alfalfa, Medicago sativa L.) is grown extensively worldwide owing to its high forage biomass production and nutritional value. Although this crop is characterised as being tolerant to drought, its production and persistence are affected by water stress. Selection of genotypes of high yield potential and persistence after a long period of drought is a major objective for lucerne-breeding programmes in Mediterranean environments. This selection could be enhanced and accelerated by the use of physiological and productivity traits and their estimation through remote-sensing methods. A set of nine cultivars of lucerne from Australia and the USA were assessed in four locations in Mediterranean central-south Chile. Several physiological and productivity traits were evaluated: forage yield (FY), stomatal conductance (gs), water potential (WP), leaf area index (LAI), nitrogen (N) content, and isotope composition (δ13C and δ18O) of the dry matter. Spectral-reflectance data were used to estimate the traits through spectral-reflectance indices (SRIs) and multivariate regression methods. For the SRI-based estimations, the R2 values for each assessment were <0.65. However, traits such as LAI, WP, gs, and N content showed higher R2 values when data from the different assessments were combined. Regression-based estimation showed prediction power similar to or higher than the SRI-based approaches. The highest R2 value was for δ13C (0.78), but for most traits the combination of data from different assessments led to higher trait estimation, with respective R2 values for LAI, FY, WP and gs of 0.67, 0.71, 0.63 and 0.85. Among regression methods, the best estimation was achieved by using support vector machine regression. The use of spectral-reflectance data collected at field level and multivariate regression models has great potential to estimate physiological and productivity traits in lucerne under water deficit and could be useful in lucerne-breeding programmes.

Additional keywords: carbon isotope composition, forage legume, perennial legume.


References

Abberton MT, Marshall AH (2005) Progress in breeding perennial clovers for temperate agriculture. The Journal of Agricultural Science 143, 117–135.
Progress in breeding perennial clovers for temperate agriculture.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Alomar D, Fuchslocher R, Cuevas J, Mardones R, Cuevas E (2009) Prediction of the composition of fresh pastures by near infrared reflectance or interactance-reflectance spectroscopy. Chilean Journal of Agricultural Research 69, 198–206.
Prediction of the composition of fresh pastures by near infrared reflectance or interactance-reflectance spectroscopy.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Annicchiarico P, Pecetti L, Tava A (2013) Physiological and morphological traits associated with adaptation of lucerne (Medicago sativa) to severely drought‐stressed and to irrigated environments. Annals of Applied Biology 162, 27–40.
Physiological and morphological traits associated with adaptation of lucerne (Medicago sativa) to severely drought‐stressed and to irrigated environments.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Araus JL, Slafer GA, Royo C, Serret MD (2008) Breeding for yield potential and stress adaptation in cereals. Critical Reviews in Plant Sciences 27, 377–412.
Breeding for yield potential and stress adaptation in cereals.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Barbour MM, Farquhar GD (2000) Relative humidity‐and ABA‐induced variation in carbon and oxygen isotope ratios of cotton leaves. Plant, Cell & Environment 23, 473–485.
Relative humidity‐and ABA‐induced variation in carbon and oxygen isotope ratios of cotton leaves.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Barnes RJ, Dhanoa MS, Lister SJ (1989) Standard normal variate transformation and de-trending of near infrared diffuse reflectance spectra. Applied Spectroscopy 43, 772–777.
Standard normal variate transformation and de-trending of near infrared diffuse reflectance spectra.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Bell LW, Williams AH, Ryan MH, Ewing MA (2007) Water relations and adaptations to increasing water deficit in three perennial legumes, Medicago sativa, Dorycnium hirsutum and Dorycnium rectum. Plant and Soil 290, 231–243.
Water relations and adaptations to increasing water deficit in three perennial legumes, Medicago sativa, Dorycnium hirsutum and Dorycnium rectum.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Benabderrahim MA, Hamza H, Haddad M, Ferchichi A (2015) Assessing the drought tolerance variability in Mediterranean alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) genotypes under arid conditions. Plant Biosystems 149, 395–403.
Assessing the drought tolerance variability in Mediterranean alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) genotypes under arid conditions.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Bhattarai K, Brummer EC, Monteros MJ (2013) Alfalfa as a bioenergy crop. In ‘Bioenergy feedstocks. Breeding and genetics’. (Eds MC Saha, HS Bhandari, JH Bouton) pp. 207–231. (Wiley-Blackwell Publishing: Hoboken, NJ, USA)

Biewer S, Erasmi S, Fricke T, Wachendorf M (2009a) Prediction of yield and the contribution of legumes in legume–grass mixtures using field spectrometry. Precision Agriculture 10, 128–144.
Prediction of yield and the contribution of legumes in legume–grass mixtures using field spectrometry.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Biewer S, Fricke T, Wachendorf M (2009b) Determination of dry matter yield from legume–grass swards by field spectroscopy. Crop Science 49, 1927–1936.
Determination of dry matter yield from legume–grass swards by field spectroscopy.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Bilello S (2016) ‘21st Century Homestead: Nitrogen-fixing crops.’ (Lulu.com Publishing)

Bouton JH (2012) Breeding lucerne for persistence. Crop & Pasture Science 63, 95–106.
Breeding lucerne for persistence.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Cabrera-Bosquet L, Molero G, Nogue S, Araus JL (2009) Water and nitrogen conditions affect the relationships of δ13C and δ18O to gas exchange and growth in durum wheat. Journal of Experimental Botany 60, 1633–1644.
Water and nitrogen conditions affect the relationships of δ13C and δ18O to gas exchange and growth in durum wheat.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 19246596PubMed |

Camargo A, Lobos GA (2016) Latin America: a development pole for phenomics. Frontiers in Plant Science 7, 1729
Latin America: a development pole for phenomics.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 27999577PubMed |

Chaves MM, Oliveira MM (2004) Mechanisms underlying plant resilience to water deficits: prospects for water saving agriculture. Journal of Experimental Botany 55, 2365–2384.
Mechanisms underlying plant resilience to water deficits: prospects for water saving agriculture.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 15475377PubMed |

Chaves MM, Flexas J, Pinheiro C (2009) Photosynthesis under drought and salt stress: regulation mechanisms from whole plant to cell. Annals of Botany 103, 551–560.
Photosynthesis under drought and salt stress: regulation mechanisms from whole plant to cell.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 18662937PubMed |

Cho MA, Skidmore AK, Atzberger C (2008) Towards red-edge positions less sensitive to canopy biophysical parameters for leaf chlorophyll estimation using properties optique spectrales des feuilles (PROSPECT) and scattering by arbitrarily inclined leaves (SAILH) simulated data. International Journal of Remote Sensing 29, 2241–2255.
Towards red-edge positions less sensitive to canopy biophysical parameters for leaf chlorophyll estimation using properties optique spectrales des feuilles (PROSPECT) and scattering by arbitrarily inclined leaves (SAILH) simulated data.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Condon AG, Richards RA, Rebetzke GJ, Farquhar GD (2004) Breeding for high water-use efficiency. Journal of Experimental Botany 55, 2447–2460.
Breeding for high water-use efficiency.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 15475373PubMed |

Darvishi B, Pustini K, Tavakkol Afshari R (2005) The photosynthetic reaction of four Iranian alfalfa cultivars to salinity stress. Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences 36, 1529–1538.

Datt B (1999) Visible/near infrared reflectance and chlorophyll content in Eucalyptus leaves. International Journal of Remote Sensing 20, 2741–2759.
Visible/near infrared reflectance and chlorophyll content in Eucalyptus leaves.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

del Pozo A, Yáñez A, Matus I, Tapia G, Castillo D, Araus JL, Sanchez-Jardón L (2016) Physiological traits associated with wheat yield potential and performance under water-stress in a Mediterranean environment. Frontiers in Plant Science 7, 987
Physiological traits associated with wheat yield potential and performance under water-stress in a Mediterranean environment.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 27458470PubMed |

del Pozo A, Ovalle C, Espinoza S, Barahona V, Gerding M, Humphries A (2017) Water relations and use-efficiency, plant survival and productivity of nine alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) cultivars in dryland Mediterranean conditions. European Journal of Agronomy 84, 16–22.
Water relations and use-efficiency, plant survival and productivity of nine alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) cultivars in dryland Mediterranean conditions.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Durante M, Oesterheld M, Piñeiro G, Vassallo MM (2014) Estimating forage quantity and quality under different stress and senescent biomass conditions via spectral reflectance. International Journal of Remote Sensing 35, 2963–2981.
Estimating forage quantity and quality under different stress and senescent biomass conditions via spectral reflectance.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Erice G, Louahlia S, Irigoyen JJ, Sanchez-Diaz M, Avice JC (2010) Biomass partitioning, morphology and water status of four alfalfa genotypes submitted to progressive drought and subsequent recovery. Journal of Plant Physiology 167, 114–120.
Biomass partitioning, morphology and water status of four alfalfa genotypes submitted to progressive drought and subsequent recovery.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 19744745PubMed |

Erice G, Louahlia S, Irigoyen JJ, Sanchez-Diaz M, Avice JC (2011) Water use efficiency, transpiration and net CO2 exchange of four alfalfa genotypes submitted to progressive drought and subsequent recovery. Environmental and Experimental Botany 72, 123–130.
Water use efficiency, transpiration and net CO2 exchange of four alfalfa genotypes submitted to progressive drought and subsequent recovery.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Farquhar GD, O’Leary MH, Berry JA (1982) On the relationship between carbon isotope discrimination and the intercellular carbon dioxide concentration in leaves. Functional Plant Biology 9, 121–137.
On the relationship between carbon isotope discrimination and the intercellular carbon dioxide concentration in leaves.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Farquhar GD, Ehleringer JR, Hubick KT (1989) Carbon isotope discrimination and photosynthesis. Annual Review of Plant Physiology and Plant Molecular Biology 40, 503–537.
Carbon isotope discrimination and photosynthesis.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Filella I, Peñuelas J (1994) The red edge position and shape as indicators of plant chlorophyll content, biomass and hydric status. International Journal of Remote Sensing 15, 1459–1470.
The red edge position and shape as indicators of plant chlorophyll content, biomass and hydric status.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Flexas J, Bota J, Loreto F, Cornic G, Sharkey TD (2004) Diffusive and metabolic limitations to photosynthesis under drought and salinity in C3 plants. Plant Biology 6, 269–279.
Diffusive and metabolic limitations to photosynthesis under drought and salinity in C3 plants.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 15143435PubMed |

Gamon J, Peñuelas J, Field C (1992) A narrow-waveband spectral index that tracks diurnal changes in photosynthetic efficiency. Remote Sensing of Environment 41, 35–44.

Garriga M, Romero-Bravo S, Estrada F, Escobar A, Matus IA, del Pozo A, Astudillo C, Lobos GA (2017) Assessing wheat traits by spectral reflectance: do we really need to focus on predicted trait-values or directly identify the elite genotypes group? Frontiers in Plant Science 8, 280
Assessing wheat traits by spectral reflectance: do we really need to focus on predicted trait-values or directly identify the elite genotypes group?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 28337210PubMed |

Ghanizadeh N, Moghaddam A, Khodabandeh N (2014) Comparing the yield of alfalfa cultivars in different harvests under limited irrigation condition. International Journal of Biosciences 4, 131–138.
Comparing the yield of alfalfa cultivars in different harvests under limited irrigation condition.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Gitelson AA, Buschmann C, Lichtenthaler HK (1999) The chlorophyll fluorescence ratio F735/F700 as an accurate measure of the chlorophyll content in plants. Remote Sensing of Environment 69, 296–302.
The chlorophyll fluorescence ratio F735/F700 as an accurate measure of the chlorophyll content in plants.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Guyot G, Baret F (1988) Utilisation de la haute resolution spectrale pour suivre l’etat des couverts vegetaux. In ‘Spectral signatures of objects in remote sensing. Proceedings of the 4th International Colloquium’. Aussois, France. pp. 279–286. (ESA: Paris)

Hancock DW, Dougherty CT (2007) Relationships between blue-and red-based vegetation indices and leaf area and yield of alfalfa. Crop Science 47, 2547–2556.
Relationships between blue-and red-based vegetation indices and leaf area and yield of alfalfa.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Hastie T, Tibshirani R, Friedman J (2009) ‘The elements of statistical learning: data mining, inference and prediction.’ (Springer: New York)

Hernández-Clemente R, Navarro-Cerrillo RM, Suárez L,, Morales F, Zarco-Tejada PJ (2011) Assessing structural effects on PRI for stress detection in conifer forests. Remote Sensing of Environment 115, 2360–2375.

Huete A (1988) A soil-adjusted vegetation index (SAVI). Remote Sensing of Environment 25, 295–309.
A soil-adjusted vegetation index (SAVI).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Inostroza L, Acuña H, Méndez J (2015) Multi-physiological-trait selection indices to identify Lotus tenuis genotypes with high dry matter production under drought conditions. Crop & Pasture Science 66, 90–99.
Multi-physiological-trait selection indices to identify Lotus tenuis genotypes with high dry matter production under drought conditions.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Inoue Y, Peñuelas J, Miyata A, Mano M (2008) Normalized difference spectral indices for estimating photosynthetic efficiency and capacity at a canopy scale derived from hyperspectral and CO2 flux measurements in rice. Remote Sensing of Environment 112, 156–172.
Normalized difference spectral indices for estimating photosynthetic efficiency and capacity at a canopy scale derived from hyperspectral and CO2 flux measurements in rice.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Jensen KB, Waldron BL, Asay KH, Johnson DA, Monaco TA (2003) Forage nutritional characteristics of orchard grass and perennial ryegrass at five irrigation levels. Agronomy Journal 95, 668–675.
Forage nutritional characteristics of orchard grass and perennial ryegrass at five irrigation levels.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Jensen KB, Waldron BL, Peel MD, Robins JG (2010) Nutritive value of herbage of five semi-irrigated pasture species across an irrigation gradient. Grass and Forage Science 65, 92–101.
Nutritive value of herbage of five semi-irrigated pasture species across an irrigation gradient.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Johnson RC, Tieszen LL (1994) Variation for water-use efficiency in alfalfa germplasm. Crop Science 34, 452–458.
Variation for water-use efficiency in alfalfa germplasm.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Kayad AG, Al-Gaadi KA, Tola E, Madugundu R, Zeyada AM, Kalaitzidis C (2016) Assessing the spatial variability of alfalfa yield using satellite imagery and ground-based data. PLoS One 11, e0157166
Assessing the spatial variability of alfalfa yield using satellite imagery and ground-based data.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 27611577PubMed |

Küchenmeister K, Küchenmeister F, Kayser M, Wrage-Mönnig N, Isselstein J (2013) Influence of drought stress on nutritive value of perennial forage legumes. International Journal of Plant Production 7, 693–710.

Lauriault LM, Kirksey RE (2004) Yield and nutritive value of irrigated winter cereal forage grass–legume intercrops in the Southern High Plains, USA. Agronomy Journal 96, 352–358.
Yield and nutritive value of irrigated winter cereal forage grass–legume intercrops in the Southern High Plains, USA.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

le Maire G, Francois C, Dufrene E (2004) Towards universal broad leaf chlorophyll indices using PROSPECT simulated database and hyperspectral reflectance measurements. Remote Sensing of Environment 89, 1–28.
Towards universal broad leaf chlorophyll indices using PROSPECT simulated database and hyperspectral reflectance measurements.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Lobos GA, Hancock JF (2015) Breeding blueberries for a changing global environment: a review. Frontiers in Plant Science 6, 782
Breeding blueberries for a changing global environment: a review.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 26483803PubMed |

Lobos GA, Poblete-Echeverría C (2017) Spectral Knowledge (SK-UTALCA): software for exploratory analysis of high-resolution spectral reflectance data on plant breeding. Frontiers in Plant Science 7, 1996
Spectral Knowledge (SK-UTALCA): software for exploratory analysis of high-resolution spectral reflectance data on plant breeding.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 28119705PubMed |

Lobos GA, Matus I, Rodriguez A, Romero-Bravo S, Araus JL, del Pozo A (2014) Wheat genotypic variability in grain yield and carbon isotope discrimination under Mediterranean conditions assessed by spectral reflectance. Journal of Integrative Plant Biology 56, 470–479.
Wheat genotypic variability in grain yield and carbon isotope discrimination under Mediterranean conditions assessed by spectral reflectance.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 24118723PubMed |

Lobos GA, Camargo A, del Pozo A, Araus JL, Ortiz R, Doonan JH (2017) Editorial: Plant phenotyping and phenomics for plant breeding. Frontiers in Plant Science 8, 2181
Editorial: Plant phenotyping and phenomics for plant breeding.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 29375593PubMed |

Lobos GA, Escobar-Opazo A, Estrada F, Romero-Bravo S, Garriga M, del Pozo A, Poblete-Echeverría C, Gonzalez-Talice J, González-Martinez L, Caligari P (2019) Spectral reflectance modeling by wavelength selection: studying the scope for blueberry physiological breeding under contrasting water supply and heat conditions. Remote Sensing 11, 329
Spectral reflectance modeling by wavelength selection: studying the scope for blueberry physiological breeding under contrasting water supply and heat conditions.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Lugassi R, Chudnovsky A, Zaady E, Dvash L, Goldshleger N (2015) Estimating pasture quality of fresh vegetation based on spectral slope of mixed data of dry and fresh vegetation-method development. Remote Sensing 7, 8045–8066.
Estimating pasture quality of fresh vegetation based on spectral slope of mixed data of dry and fresh vegetation-method development.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Main R, Cho MA, Mathieu R, O’Kennedy MM, Ramoelo A, Koch S (2011) An investigation into robust spectral indices for leaf chlorophyll estimation. ISPRS Journal of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing 66, 751–761.
An investigation into robust spectral indices for leaf chlorophyll estimation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Marshall M, Thenkabail P (2015) Developing in situ non-destructive estimates of crop biomass to address issues of scale in remote sensing. Remote Sensing 7, 808–835.
Developing in situ non-destructive estimates of crop biomass to address issues of scale in remote sensing.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Merton R (1998) Monitoring community hysteresis using espectral shift analysis and the red-edge vegetatión estress index. In ‘Proceedings of the Seventh Annual JPL Airborne Earth Science Workshop’. Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA, USA.

Misra SC, Shinde S, Geerts S, Rao VS, Monneveux P (2010) Can carbon isotope discrimination and ash content predict grain yield and water use efficiency in wheat? Agricultural Water Management 97, 57–65.
Can carbon isotope discrimination and ash content predict grain yield and water use efficiency in wheat?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Mistele B, Schmidhalter U (2010) Tractor-based quadrilateral spectral reflectance measurements to detect biomass and total aerial nitrogen in winter wheat. Agronomy Journal 102, 499–506.

Moghaddam A, Razab A, Vollmannc J, Ardakanid MR, Waneke W, Gollnerc G, Friedel JK (2013) Carbon isotope discrimination and water use efficiency relationships of alfalfa genotypes under irrigated and rain-fed organic farming. European Journal of Agronomy 50, 82–89.
Carbon isotope discrimination and water use efficiency relationships of alfalfa genotypes under irrigated and rain-fed organic farming.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Noland RL, Well MS, Coulter JA, Tiede T, Baker JM, Martinson KL, Sheaffer CC (2018) Estimating alfalfa yield and nutritive value using remote sensing and air temperature. Field Crops Research 222, 189–196.
Estimating alfalfa yield and nutritive value using remote sensing and air temperature.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Peñuelas J, Baret F, Filella I (1995) Semi-empirical indices to assess carotenoids/chlorophyll a ratio from leaf spectral reflectance. Photosynthetica 31, 221–230.

Petisco C, García‐Criado B, García‐Criado L, Vázquez‐de‐Aldana BR, García‐Ciudad A (2009) Quantitative analysis of chlorophyll and protein in alfalfa leaves using fiber‐optic near‐infrared spectroscopy. Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis 40, 2474–2484.
Quantitative analysis of chlorophyll and protein in alfalfa leaves using fiber‐optic near‐infrared spectroscopy.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Pimstein A, Karnieli A, Bansal SK, Bonfil DJ (2011) Exploring remotely sensed technologies for monitoring wheat potassium and phosphorus using field spectroscopy. Field Crops Research 121, 125–135.

Pittman JJ, Arnall DB, Interrante SM, Moffet CA, Butler TJ (2015) Estimation of biomass and canopy height in bermudagrass, alfalfa, and wheat using ultrasonic, laser, and spectral sensors. Sensors 15, 2920–2943.
Estimation of biomass and canopy height in bermudagrass, alfalfa, and wheat using ultrasonic, laser, and spectral sensors.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 25635415PubMed |

Radović J, Sokolović D, Marković J (2009) Alfalfa-most important perennial forage legume in animal husbandry. Biotechnology in Animal Husbandry 25, 465–475.
Alfalfa-most important perennial forage legume in animal husbandry.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Rafińska K, Pomastowski P, Wrona O, Górecki R, Buszewski B (2017) Medicago sativa as a source of secondary metabolites for agriculture and pharmaceutical industry. Phytochemistry Letters 20, 520–539.
Medicago sativa as a source of secondary metabolites for agriculture and pharmaceutical industry.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Rashmi R, Sarkar M, Vikramaditya A (1997) Cultivation of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). Ancient Science of Life 17, 117–119.

Rebetzke GJ, Condon AG, Richards RA, Farquhar GD (2002) Selection for reduced carbon isotope discrimination increases aerial biomass and grain yield of rainfed bread wheat. Crop Science 42, 739–745.
Selection for reduced carbon isotope discrimination increases aerial biomass and grain yield of rainfed bread wheat.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Richter K, Atzberger C, Vuolo F, Weihs P, D’Urso G (2009) Experimental assessment of the Sentinel-2 band setting for RTM-based LAI retrieval of sugar beet and maize. Canadian Journal of Remote Sensing 35, 230–247.
Experimental assessment of the Sentinel-2 band setting for RTM-based LAI retrieval of sugar beet and maize.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Royo C, Aparicio N, Villegas D, Casadesus J, Monneveux P, Araus JL (2003) Usefulness of spectral reflectance indices as durum wheat yield predictors under contrasting Mediterranean conditions. International Journal of Remote Sensing 24, 4403–4419.
Usefulness of spectral reflectance indices as durum wheat yield predictors under contrasting Mediterranean conditions.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Sakiroglu M, Moore KJ, Brummer EC (2011) Variation in biomass yield, cell wall components, and agronomic traits in a broad range of diploid alfalfa accessions. Crop Science 51, 1956–1964.
Variation in biomass yield, cell wall components, and agronomic traits in a broad range of diploid alfalfa accessions.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Seguin P, Mustafa AF, Sheaffer CC (2002) Effects of soil moisture deficit on forage quality, digestibility, and protein fractionation of Kura clover. Journal of Agronomy & Crop Science 188, 260–266.
Effects of soil moisture deficit on forage quality, digestibility, and protein fractionation of Kura clover.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Shi S, Nan L, Smith KF (2017) The current status, problems, and prospects of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) breeding in China. Agronomy 7, 1
The current status, problems, and prospects of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) breeding in China.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Smola A, Vapnik V (1997) Support vector regression machines. Advances in Neural Information Processing Systems 9, 155–161.

Starks PJ, Brown MA, Turner KE, Venuto BC (2016) Canopy visible and near-infrared reflectance data to estimate alfalfa nutritive attributes before harvest. Crop Science 56, 484–494.
Canopy visible and near-infrared reflectance data to estimate alfalfa nutritive attributes before harvest.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Stolpe NB (2006) Descripciones de los principales suelos de la VIII Región de Chile. Departamento de Suelos y recursos naturales, Universidad de Concepción. pp. 112.

Taylor NL (2008) A century of clover breeding developments in the United States. Crop Science 48, 1–13.
A century of clover breeding developments in the United States.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Tcherkez G, Mahé A, Hodges M (2011) 12C/13C fractionations in plant primary metabolism. Trends in Plant Science 16, 499–506.
12C/13C fractionations in plant primary metabolism.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 21705262PubMed |

Thenkabail PS, Gumma MK, Teluguntla P, Mohammed IA (2014) Hyperspectral remote sensing of vegetation and agricultural crops. Photogrammetric Engineering and Remote Sensing 80, 697–723.

Van Deventer AP, Ward AD, Gowda PH, Lyon JG (1997) Using Thematic Mapper data to identify contrasting soil plains and tillage practices. Photogrammetric Engineering and Remote Sensing 63, 87–93.

Wahbi A, Shaaban ASA (2011) Relationship between carbon isotope discrimination (Δ), yield and water use efficiency of durum wheat in Northern Syria. Agricultural Water Management 98, 1856–1866.
Relationship between carbon isotope discrimination (Δ), yield and water use efficiency of durum wheat in Northern Syria.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Wang Y, Frei M (2011) Stressed food—the impact of abiotic environmental stresses on crop quality. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment 141, 271–286.
Stressed food—the impact of abiotic environmental stresses on crop quality.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Ward P, Micin M, Dunin F (2006) Using soil, climate and agronomy to predict soil water use by lucerne compared with soil water use by annual crops or pastures. Australian Journal of Soil Research 57, 347–354.
Using soil, climate and agronomy to predict soil water use by lucerne compared with soil water use by annual crops or pastures.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Willmott CJ (1981) On the validation of models. Physical Geography 2, 184–194.
On the validation of models.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Yasir TA, Min D, Chen X, Condon AG, Hu YG (2013) The association of carbon isotope discrimination (Δ) with gas exchange parameters and yield traits in Chinese bread wheat cultivars under two water regimes. Agricultural Water Management 119, 111–120.
The association of carbon isotope discrimination (Δ) with gas exchange parameters and yield traits in Chinese bread wheat cultivars under two water regimes.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Yousfi N, Slama I, Ghnaya T, Savouré A, Abdelly C (2010) Effects of water deficit stress on growth, water relations and osmolyte accumulation in Medicago truncatula and M. laciniata populations. Comptes Rendus Biologies 333, 205–213.
Effects of water deficit stress on growth, water relations and osmolyte accumulation in Medicago truncatula and M. laciniata populations.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 20338538PubMed |

Zeng L, Chen C (2018) Using remote sensing to estimate forage biomass and nutrient contents at different growth stages. Biomass and Bioenergy 115, 74–81.
Using remote sensing to estimate forage biomass and nutrient contents at different growth stages.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Zhao D, Starks PJ, Brown MA, Phillips WA, Coleman SW (2007) Assessment of forage biomass and quality parameters of bermudagrass using proximal sensing of pasture canopy reflectance. Grassland Science 53, 39–49.
Assessment of forage biomass and quality parameters of bermudagrass using proximal sensing of pasture canopy reflectance.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |