2.2. Biophysical parameters – maize crop

Maize crop, sown on August 18, 2015 was cultivated for silage/fodder purpose (forage maize) and was harvested at the physiological maturity stage (i.e. 85 days after sowing – DAS). The total amount of the applied irrigation water was 1163 mm. To understand the nature of the crop, in-situ biophysical parameters such as leaf area index (LAI), stomatal conductance, chlorophyll content and gas exchange measurements were recorded. LAI was determined by collecting five readings from each sampled location with the plant canopy analyzer (LAI-2200). The leaf chlorophyll content was recorded using a Chlorophyll Meter (SPAD-502). While measuring the leaf chlorophyll content, three SPAD readings per leaf were collected from the most recently collared leaf of the plant. Consequently, gas exchange measurements – the rate of photosynthesis (P_n), transpiration (ER), stomatal conductance (gs) and intercellular CO₂ concentration (C_i) were measured, for the assessment of photosynthetic assimilation of CO₂, using a portable photosynthesis system (LI-6400XT).