Abstract: The contents of protein and starch in rice are two of the indices to evaluate the nutrition and taste quality of rice. Normal determinations of their contents by chemical methods are of high expense and time consuming. The hyperspectral reflectances of the canopy and panicle of 5 rice varieties were measured by a ASD FieldSpec Pro FRTM in field and indoor under 3 nitrogen application levels in mature process, and that of paddy measured too. The contents of crude protein and crude starch in panicle and paddy were determined. The contents of crude protein and crude starch in panicle were significantly correlated to the canopy spectra and their first derivative spectra at some wave bands, and also significantly correlated to the spectra of panicle powder and their first derivative spectra at some wave bands. The squared multiple correlation coefficients (R2 ) were about 0.7. The crude starch content was negative correlative to the crude protein contents in paddy. They were very significantly correlated to the paddy spectra and their first derivative spectra at some wave bands. This indicated that it was feasible for estimating the contents of crude protein and crude starch in panicle and paddy by hyperspectral remote sensing. It would provide a basis for monitoring rice quality by remote sensing.

Key words: Rice, Hyperspectral reflectance, Crude protein, Crude starch, Rice panicle, Paddy