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LCC Version 1.2

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1. Randomly select at least 10 disease-free rice plants or hills in a field with uniform plant population.

 

2. Select the topmost fully expanded leaf from each hill or plant. Place the middle part of the leaf on a chart and compare the leaf color with the color panels of the LCC. Do not detach or destroy the leaf.

 

3. Measure the leaf color under the shade of your body, (direct sunlight affects leaf color readings). If possible, the same person should take LCC readings at the same time of the day every time.

 

4. Determine the average LCC reading for the selected leaves.

The photos below illustrate the use of the standardized LCC to assess leaf N status and adjust N applications to rice:

Photos from Witt et al. (2002)

In photo (a) plants without N application are yellowish. Nitrogen deficiency is confirmed in photo (b) because the LCC reading is between panels 2 and 3.

At low fertilizer N rates in photos (c) and (d) the plants look better, but the low LCC reading still indicates N deficiency.

At higher fertilizer N rates in photos (e) and (f) the plants look well developed and the canopy is closed. The LCC reading is between panels 3 and 4, which is the critical range for most transplanted rice.

In photos (g) and (h) plants with a high N rate are dark green. Leaf color is darker than the LCC panel no. 4 indicating a surplus of fertilizer N.