Q1. Discuss the factors controlling spectral signature of a plant's leaf in different regions.
- Visible spectrum (0.4-0.7 µm) is controlled by chlorophyll content, showing strong blue/red absorption and green reflection.
- Chlorophyll reduction (stress/senescence) increases visible reflectance, indicating declining plant health.
- Near-Infrared (NIR) spectrum (0.7-1.3 µm) is dominated by leaf internal cellular structure and air-cell interfaces.
- High scattering within mesophyll cells causes high reflectance in the NIR region.
Answer: The spectral signature of a plant's leaf is its unique pattern of electromagnetic radiation reflectance, absorption, and transmittance across different wavelengths. This signature is a fundamental concept in remote sensing, providing insights into the plant's health, species, and physiological status. Several intrinsic and extrinsic factors profoundly control this characteristic spectral response in various regions of the electromagnetic spectrum. In the visible region (approximately 0.4 to 0.7...