LAI Archives - CID Bio-Science

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5 Emerging Trends in Plant Canopy Analysis for 2025

Plant canopy analysis is moving well beyond simple LAI estimates and light measurements. In 2025, researchers expect more integrated, data-rich, and field-ready approaches that connect canopy structure, physiology, and spectral responses in real time. As climate variability increases and breeding programs accelerate, the need for fast, accurate, and non-destructive plant canopy analysis is more urgent… Continue reading…

7 Funding Agencies That Require Leaf Area or LAI Data in Proposals

Leaf area index data shows up in more grant calls than many researchers expect. Whether you are studying crop productivity, forest carbon dynamics, ecosystem resilience, or climate adaptation, reviewers often want quantitative canopy metrics. Leaf area index data connects plant structure to function. It links canopy architecture to light interception, water use, carbon exchange, and… Continue reading…

5 Software Tools Compatible with Canopy Image Analysis

CI-110 Plant Canopy Imager

Canopy image analysis software plays a central role in turning field images into usable, quantitative data. Whether you are calculating leaf area index, measuring gap fraction, or modeling light interception, the quality of your analysis depends on both the instrument and the software you choose. For researchers using the CI-110 Plant Canopy Imager, selecting the… 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 Often Do I Need to Recalibrate My CI‑110?

CI-110 Plant Canopy Imager: Field Work

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…

What’s the Difference Between Gap‑Fraction and PAR Methods in Canopy Analysis?

What’s the Difference Between Gap‑Fraction and PAR Methods in Canopy Analysis

When researchers compare canopy analysis methods, the conversation usually comes down to one practical question: do you want to estimate canopy structure from images of the canopy itself, or from the light that makes it through the canopy? That is the core difference between gap-fraction and PAR methods. Both are used to estimate leaf area… Continue reading…

Why Are My LAI Values Higher Than Expected and How Do I Check the Instrument?

If your leaf area index readings seem too high, the first thing to know is that high leaf area index values are not always caused by a faulty instrument. In many cases, the issue comes from measurement setup, image conditions, thresholding choices, canopy structure, or how the instrument is being used in the field. With… Continue reading…

CI‑110 vs Smartphone Fish‑Eye Canopy Solutions: Can cheap compete?

CI‑110 vs Smartphone Fish‑Eye Canopy Solutions Can cheap compete

Researchers talk a lot about quick canopy imaging tricks lately, especially when phone apps promise convenience. Those tools attract interest because they cost almost nothing and sit in every pocket. Still, when you compare them to a true plant canopy imager, the differences grow obvious fast. The CI-110 sits in a class of its own… Continue reading…

Measuring How Microclimate Affects Turmeric Yield

Turmeric is integrated as an under-canopy cash crop in agroforestry, as it is considered to be tolerant to light shade. The microclimate created by canopy trees differs, so it is important to find which species creates the optimum growing conditions for turmeric. Finding out the amount of light that is transmitted to the under-canopy is… Continue reading…

Influence of Environment on Plants

There is no denying the importance of light for the growth of plants; however, there are many other environmental factors—such as temperature, moisture and nutrient availability, and soil type–that also influence plant growth. These factors do not act in isolation and are, many times, correlated. So, it is interesting to see how light works in… Continue reading…