The fourth leaf from top of the canopy could better reflect plant nitrogen (N) status in winter barley.
The chlorophyll meter (CM) readings gradient is a good proxy of leaf N gradient.
The N nutrition index (NNI) and CM reading relations were not stable across cultivars and seasons.
The positional difference chlorophyll measurements index (PDCMI) of different leaves had significant negative relationships with N nutrition index expect for PDCMI12 and PDCMI13.
The NNI and PDCMI14 relations were stable across the cultivars and seasons.