Seasonal Changes in Reflectance and Standing Crop Biomass in Three Salt Marsh Communities

Abstract

Reflectance of red (656-705 nm) and infrared (776-826 nm) solar radiation and standing crop biomass were measured in three salt marsh communities at intervals of approximately 2 weeks between February and August 1974. Red reflectance declined at the onset of greening in each community and was correlated with standing crop of green biomass. Infrared reflectance increased substantially in the shrub community but less in the grass and sedge communities. The inverse of red reflectance was found to be a reliable predictor of green biomass in sedge and grass communities, but not in a shrub community.