Visible and near infrared reflectance characteristics of dry plant materials.

The visible and near infrared reflectance characteristics of dry plant materials from plant canopies and associated plant litters were examined. Plant material (green leaf or stem, senesced leaf, decayed leaf, brown wood, grey wood and bark) from Arctostaphylos glauca, Eriogonum fasciculatum, Artemisia tridentata, Pinus monophylla, Elymus condensatus, Ephedra nevadensis, Eucalyptus pulchella and Platanus racemosa was studied. Laboratory reflectance spectra of dry plant materials were distinctly different from those of green plant material. Dry plant materials had diagnostic ligno-cellulose absorption features at 2.09 and in the 3.3 µm region. The visible portion of the spectrum was dominated by an absorption wing in the 0.4 to 0.9 µm region produced by intense blue and ultraviolet absorption. This absorption wing broke down as plant decay progressed.