Assessing water status in rice plants in water-deficient environments using thermal imaging

Rice is a staple food for the global population. However, extreme weather events threaten the stability of the water supply for agriculture, posing a critical challenge to the stability of the food supply. The use of technology to assess the water status of rice plants enables the precise management of agricultural water resources.

The results of this study reveal that rice-producing regions with more severe drought have higher ion leakage rates, lower Soil Plant Analysis Development (SPAD) meter values, and reduced total chlorophyll content in plants. Although no significant differences were observed in red-green-blue (RGB) images, physiological parameters and canopy temperature differed significantly from conventional farming when infrared thermography was used to capture rice plants in the early stages of drought. The Crop Water Stress Index (CWSI), calculated from canopy temperature and atmospheric temperature, indicated a high correlation between access to water for rice plants and their physiological parameters. Regression analysis using CWSI and plant water status yielded a corrected coefficient of determination of 0.86.

Our study demonstrate that infrared thermography can effectively detect early signs of water stress in rice, aiding farmers in irrigation planning and enabling precise management and optimal utilization of water resources.