Method and apparatus for measuring moisture tension in leaves of growing plants
AssigneeThe Curators of the University of Missouri
InventorEllis R. Graham
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus to measure moisture tension in a leaf of a growing plant is described. The apparatus includes a pair of separable jaws for clamping a leaf between a standard light source and a photoelectric detector which are connected electrically to a regulated bias network and through an analog-to-digital converter panel meter. The measurement appearing on the readout is compared with a predetermined calibration source. The instrument as a whole is called a Moisture Tension Radiometer.
Claims2
A method for measuring moisture tension in a leaf of a growing plant by means of an instrument having a pair of separable jaws with a standard light source mounted on one jaw and a photoelectric detector mounted on the other jaw, with both connected to a digital panel meter, the steps comprising:
- initially squeezing the jaws together, without a leaf present, to bring the light source into coincidence with the detector to establish an initial intensity of light transmitted to the detector and display on the meter;
- placing a leaf between the jaws and squeezing said jaws together to measure the light intensity transmitted through said leaf and displayed on said meter;
- and
- comparing the measurements made with some predetermined standard measurements for the particular plant leaf of interest.
An instrument for measuring directly the moisture tension in a leaf of a growing plant comprising:
- a pair of moveable separable jaws adapted to engage a plant leaf by moving said jaws together;
- a standard light source mounted on one of said jaws;
- a photoelectric detector mounted on the other of said jaws and adapted to be actuated by light from said source when said jaws are close;
- an electrically operated digital display connected to said detector and adapted to provide a readout corresponding to the intensity of light transmitted from said source to said detector;
- an electrical power source connected to said light source and to said detector and to said display for energizing same;
- switch means for connecting said power source to said light source and simultaneously energizing said detector and said display;
- and
- means for comparing the intensity of light detected by said detector with a predetermined standard for a particular plant species being measured.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.