Plant science articles
8 Questions to Ask Before Buying a Field Phenotyping Instrument
Field phenotyping instrument selection can shape the quality and efficiency of plant research for years. Whether you are studying crop stress, canopy structure, photosynthesis, or leaf morphology, the right tools determine how quickly and accurately you collect data. A reliable field phenotyping instrument should fit your workflow, handle real field conditions, and generate data that… Continue reading…
Why Does My CI‑202 Give Different Values Than My CI‑203?
If you have used both the CI-202 Portable Laser Leaf Area Meter and the CI-203 Handheld Laser Leaf Area Meter, you may have noticed something that surprises many researchers at first. The same leaf scanned on both instruments can produce slightly different results. When researchers rely on accurate leaf area measurement for plant physiology, agronomy,… Continue reading…
How Do mixed-species systems Improve Root Growth, Soil Health, and Crop Yields?
Root systems in monoculture and mixed species systems create very different soil environments that influence resource availability and microbial interactions. Root plasticity allows plants to respond to neighbors by varying traits such as distribution, rooting depth, root biomass, root length density, average diameter, and fine root production. Yield, yield stability, resource-use efficiency, land-use efficiency, and… Continue reading…
What Is Nitrogen Deposition and How Does It Affect Plants and Biodiversity?
Air pollutants, nitrogen oxides, and ammonia, are leading to increased nitrogen deposition on soil and water. Increased nitrogen deposition is changing soil properties through nitrogen enrichment and acidification. As a result of soil changes and acid rain, plants’ biochemistry, physiology, and morphology are changing. Loss of species and a shift in species composition are negatively… Continue reading…
Importance and Measurement of Leaf Area Index in Vertical Greening Systems
Leaf Area Index (LAI) can be used to quantify the benefits of vertical greening systems, such as thermal cooling, energy savings, air pollution control, and noise pollution control. LAI for vertical greening systems needs to be measured along the vertical plane. Three methods, including direct and indirect estimation, are used to measure LAI. The choice… Continue reading…
How Do Plant Growth Regulators Improve Photosynthetic Rate in Crops?
Plant growth regulators (PGRs) can positively or negatively influence photosynthesis, depending on the chemical. PGRs alter photosynthesis by manipulating the leaf anatomy, morphology, and physiology. Physiological effects include a better stress response, and morphological alterations improve light infiltration in the canopy. Anatomically, PGRs improve chlorophyll content and the structure and functions of the photosynthetic apparatus.… Continue reading…
Ecosystem-Level Root Production and Mortality in Response to Climate Change
Increasing carbon dioxide produces various root production and root mortality trends in different ecosystems Temperature rises increase root production, with diverse effects on root mortality. Drought can initially increase root production, but as water deficit intensity and duration increase, it reduces root production and increases root mortality. Differences in root quantification methods can make global… Continue reading…
How Often Do I Need to Recalibrate My CI‑110?
Researchers rely on accurate canopy measurements to understand plant growth, light interception, and ecosystem dynamics. That is why many users ask about CI-110 recalibration when they begin working with the Plant Canopy Imager. The good news is that the CI-110 is designed to minimize recalibration requirements while maintaining reliable measurements in the field. With a… Continue reading…
Can I Use the CI‑600 Root Imager in Sandy Soils?
Yes, the CI-600 Root Imager can be used in sandy soils, and in many cases sandy sites are actually well suited to this kind of root work. The bigger point, though, is that success in sand comes down to installation quality, tube stability, and a workflow built for repeated, non-destructive measurements over time. The CI-600… Continue reading…
What Happens If My Canopy Profiles Change Mid‑Season?
Canopy profiles rarely stay still for an entire growing season. That is exactly why tracking canopy profiles matters. A crop can look uniform in early vegetative growth, then shift quickly once row closure, heat stress, nutrient differences, pruning, lodging, disease pressure, or irrigation variation start changing leaf angle, canopy density, and light penetration. When canopy… Continue reading…
