Hints and Tips
Page 44
SENSITIVE STOMATA
The stomata of a few species start to close rapidly as soon as the light level is reduced by
attaching the sensor head. If successive cycles give higher and higher resistance
readings, this may be happening. Accepting a reading after the second or third cycle is
your only option.
THE CUP-LEAF SEAL
Leakage between the cup seal and the leaf will lead to errors if the ambient RH differs
much from the cycling RH level. Variability in successive cycles is the usual symptom of
this. A quick test is to breathe over the sensor head. The next reading will show a
considerably lower resistance if there is significant leakage. Reposition the sensor head
to improve the seal.
TEMPERATURE MANAGEMENT
One of the more demanding aspects of field measurements (and in glasshouses) is
keeping the sensor head near isothermal conditions (i.e. a cup-leaf temperature
difference
δT of 0°C)
when in strong sunlight.
If exposed to direct solar radiation, the sensor head will heat up significantly above air
temperature. Excessive handling will also warm it up. Leaves may be either hotter or
cooler than air temperature, depending on their stomatal aperture, water stress and a
number of other factors.
As far as possible therefore, keep the sensor head shaded and the shutter over the leaf-
pad closed. If the δT can be kept <1°C, you are doing well. The AP4 software will be
applying its automatic correction anyway, and can cope with up to ±2.5°C. You may
occasionally ha
ve to tolerate a higher δT though. The dangers are twofold: the
correction itself becomes less good as δT increases; and if the temperatures are not
stable, the indicated δT may lag the true δT and introduce further error.
LEAF TEMPERATURE
What the AP4 calls leaf temperature (as in the cup-
leaf δT) is the temperature of the leaf
after it has been clipped into the sensor head and has equilibrated (more or less) with
the cup. This may be a few degrees different from the actual temperature of the
undisturbed leaf. If you need the actual leaf temperature, you should measure it by
some independent means. The AP4 readings are always related to the cup temperature
to avoid confusion.
See How Results are Calculated in the AP4 Technical Manual, page 32.
Содержание AP4
Страница 1: ...User Manual for the AP4 Porometer Version 4 Delta T Devices Version 4 0 ...
Страница 21: ...CALIBRATION Page 21 ...
Страница 23: ...CALIBRATION Page 23 INSTALL CALIBRATION FLOW CHART ...
Страница 30: ...HOW TO READ Page 30 ...
Страница 32: ...HOW TO READ Page 32 READINGS CYCLE FLOW CHART ...
Страница 34: ...HOW TO READ Page 34 STORE READINGS FLOW CHART ...
Страница 35: ...REVIEW Page 35 REVIEW No editing can be done and no settings changed within REVIEW ...
Страница 38: ...OUTPUT TO COMPUTER Page 38 TYPICAL PRINT OUT OF DATA 17 ...
Страница 49: ...Layout and Control Page 49 ...