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Wicharuck S, Suang S, Chaichana C, Chromkaew Y, Mawan N, Soilueang P, Khongdee N. The implementation of the SPAD-502 Chlorophyll meter for the quantification of nitrogen content in Arabica coffee leaves. MethodsX 2024; 12:102566. [PMID: 38287962 PMCID: PMC10823125 DOI: 10.1016/j.mex.2024.102566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 01/31/2024] Open
Abstract
The utilization of a non-destructive SPAD-502 chlorophyll meter, which enables the measurement of nitrogen status in plant leaves, has gained popularity in agronomic crops. Its application to horticultural crops like coffee remains relatively uncommon. The device provides quick and real-time measurements, helping to provide on-time nitrogen fertilizer to coffee plants before deficiency signs occur. Coffee leaves are characterized by thick and waxy leaves, together with many layers of tree crown. Therefore, the objective of this study was to develop a method for measuring nitrogen levels in coffee plants using the SPAD-502 Chlorophyll meter for an appropriate nitrogen fertilizer application rate in Arabica coffee plants. •Coffee trees were separated into upper, middle and lower levels. Data on SPAD values and total nitrogen were analyzed.•Pearson Correlation Coefficient (R), Coefficient of Determination (R2) and linear regression were calculated for different three levels of both SPAD-502 and total nitrogen values.•The results revealed a strong correlation (R2 = 0.63) between the SPAD readings of coffee leaves obtained from the upper canopy and their nitrogen content. These findings can provide a good concept of which coffee crown level will be a better part for measuring N content using a SPAD-502 Chlorophyll meter.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suwimon Wicharuck
- Office of Administration Research, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
- Energy Technology for Environment Research Center, Faculty of Engineering, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
| | - Sutasinee Suang
- Department of Highland Agriculture and Natural Resources, Faculty of Agriculture, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
| | - Chatchawan Chaichana
- Energy Technology for Environment Research Center, Faculty of Engineering, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
| | - Yupa Chromkaew
- Department of Plant and Soil Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
| | - Nipon Mawan
- Department of Highland Agriculture and Natural Resources, Faculty of Agriculture, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
| | - Phonlawat Soilueang
- Department of Highland Agriculture and Natural Resources, Faculty of Agriculture, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
- Department of Plant and Soil Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
| | - Nuttapon Khongdee
- Department of Highland Agriculture and Natural Resources, Faculty of Agriculture, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
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Wicharuck S, Khongdee N, Man A, Syahputra WNH, Yalangkan P, Chaiphak P, Chaichana C. Vertical farming for lettuce production in limited space: a case study in Northern Thailand. PeerJ 2024; 12:e17085. [PMID: 38618565 PMCID: PMC11015828 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.17085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Greenhouse vertical farming under natural sunlight is an alternative farming technique that grows crops in a stacking column and extends in a vertical direction. Sunlight availability is one of the crucial factors for crop development in vertical farming. Therefore, this investigation aimed to examine the effect of sunlight availability on lettuce growth and yields at different levels of vertical shelves. Methods Six shelves were constructed with three levels: upper, middle and lower levels. Lettuces (Lactuca sativa L.) as 'Baby Cos' and 'Green Oak' at 14 days after sowing were planted on the three levels. The photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) was recorded, and the PPFD values were then converted to the daily light integral (DLI). Plant height and canopy width were measured three times at 14, 21 and 28 days after transplanting. At maturity, fresh weight (FW) was directly monitored after harvest. Results The results showed that the highest PPFD and DLI values were found at the upper level (PPFD 697 μmol m-2 s-1 and DLI 29 mol m-2 d-1) in comparison to the middle (PPFD 391 μmol m-2 s-1 and DLI 16 mol m-2 d-1) and lower (PPFD 322 μmol m-2 s-1 and DLI 13 mol m-2 d-1) levels. The lowest plant height and canopy width values were observed on the upper levels for both lettuce varieties during the three measurement dates. The middle ('Baby Cos' = 123.8 g plant-1 and 'Green Oak' = 190.7 g plant-1) and lower ('Baby Cos' = 92.9 g plant-1 and 'Green Oak' = 203.7 g plant-1) levels had the higher values of FW in comparison to the upper level ('Baby Cos' = 84.5 g plant-1 and 'Green Oak' = 97.3 g plant-1). The values of light use efficiency (LUE) showed an increased trend from the upper to lower levels in both varieties, with values of 'Baby Cos' of 0.10 g mol-1 in the upper level, 0.28 g mol-1 in the middle level and 0.26 g mol-1 in the lower level and 'Green Oak' of 0.12 g mol-1 in the upper level, 0.44 g mol-1 in the middle level and 0.57 g mol-1 in the lower level. The findings of the study indicated the viability of utilizing vertical shelves for lettuce production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suwimon Wicharuck
- Office of Research Administration, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
- Energy Technology for Environment Research Center, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | - Nuttapon Khongdee
- Department of Highland Agriculture and Natural Resources, Faculty of Agriculture, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | - Ar Man
- Graduate Master’s Degree Program in Energy Engineering, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | - Wahyu Nurkholis Hadi Syahputra
- Agricultural Engineering Program, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | - Parichat Yalangkan
- Energy Technology for Environment Research Center, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | - Prapaporn Chaiphak
- Energy Technology for Environment Research Center, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | - Chatchawan Chaichana
- Energy Technology for Environment Research Center, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
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Soilueang P, Jaikrasen K, Chromkaew Y, Buachun S, Yimyam N, Sanjunthong W, Kullachonphuri S, Wicharuck S, Mawan N, Khongdee N. Dynamics of soil nitrogen availability following conversion of natural forests to various coffee cropping systems in northern Thailand. Heliyon 2023; 9:e22988. [PMID: 38125514 PMCID: PMC10731079 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e22988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2023] [Revised: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Land conversion critically affects soil physiochemical and biological properties, yet very little remains clear about the impact of forest conversion on the N pool and related microbial N transformations. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the dynamics of soil N availability following forest conversion into the different coffee cropping systems, and explore the mechanisms behind these dynamics from the microbial N transformation. Disturbed soil samples from two depths (0-20 and 20-40 cm) were collected from four land uses consisting of three different coffee cropping systems (coffee monocultures (C), coffee agroforestry (FC), coffee associated with persimmon (Diospyros kaki L.) (CH)) converted from natural forest and adjacent natural forest (F) in northern Thailand. The soil labile N pools (including ammonium (NH4+), nitrate (NO3-), inorganic N (IN), dissolved organic N (DON) contents and microbial biomass N (MBN)) were measured, as well as the soil total N (STN) content. Soil N transformation rates, including net N mineralization, nitrification, and immobilization, were determined using a laboratory incubation experiment. The results showed that the forest conversion to coffee agroforestry significantly increased soil N content by 39.83 % in topsoil, but no significant difference was observed in C and CH soils as compared to F soil (p ≤ 0.05). The three labile N forms (NH4+, NO3- and DON content) were significantly higher under the C, FC and CH soils in both depths, while the coffee monoculture decreased the MBN content. The increases in soil IN, IN/DON and NO3-/NH4+ ratios used as an N availability indicator were positively associated with an increase in the N mineralization and nitrification processes following the forest conversion. Interestingly, the N immobilization processes in the F and FC soils were significantly higher than those in the C and CH soils, which indirectly regulated a decreased nitrification rate in F and FC soils in our study. With the exception of the FC soil, the nitrification/N immobilization ratios in the C (4.95) and CH (4.08) soils were higher than those in the F (0.70) soil, indicating an increased N loss risk after forest conversion. Therefore, coffee agroforestry systems have the potential to be effective management strategies for improving soil nitrogen sequestration following forest conversion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phonlawat Soilueang
- Department of Plant and Soil Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, 50200, Thailand
- Department of Highland Agriculture and Natural Resources, Faculty of Agriculture, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, 50200, Thailand
| | - Kittipong Jaikrasen
- Department of Highland Agriculture and Natural Resources, Faculty of Agriculture, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, 50200, Thailand
| | - Yupa Chromkaew
- Department of Plant and Soil Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, 50200, Thailand
| | - Sureerat Buachun
- Faculty of Sciences and Agricultural Technology, Rajamangala University of Technology Lanna Phitsanulok Campus, Phitsanulok, 65000, Thailand
| | - Narit Yimyam
- Department of Highland Agriculture and Natural Resources, Faculty of Agriculture, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, 50200, Thailand
| | - Wiriya Sanjunthong
- Department of Highland Agriculture and Natural Resources, Faculty of Agriculture, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, 50200, Thailand
| | - Sasiprapa Kullachonphuri
- Department of Highland Agriculture and Natural Resources, Faculty of Agriculture, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, 50200, Thailand
| | - Suwimon Wicharuck
- Energy Technology for Environment Research Center, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, 50200, Thailand
| | - Nipon Mawan
- Department of Highland Agriculture and Natural Resources, Faculty of Agriculture, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, 50200, Thailand
| | - Nuttapon Khongdee
- Department of Highland Agriculture and Natural Resources, Faculty of Agriculture, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, 50200, Thailand
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