Water and nutrient are the main limitation factors for crop production. On-site and precise detection of crop water and nutrient content is necessary for improving crop water and nutrient management

and the use efficiency of water and nutrients;reducing environmental pollution caused by over fertilization; and promoting water-saving agriculture production. In this paper

firstly

a brief introduction to the eco-physiological basis of plant spectral characters and the principles of spectra detection of plant water and nitrogen content were presented. An overview was then given on the developments of the detection of crop water and nitrogen status by remote sensing. Finally

the current research highlight

the existing difficulties

and the future development trends and the prospect of remote sensing of crop water and nitrogen status were discussed.