ISHS Acta Horticulturae 304: I International Workshop on Sensors in Horticulture
IN SITU PLANT WEIGHT MEASUREMENT OF TOMATO WITH AN ELECTRONIC FORCE GAUGE |
| Authors: | A.N.M. de Koning, J.C. Bakker |
| Keywords: | growth, measurement, instrumentation, tomato |
| Abstract:
An 'electronic' force gauge (Aikoh 9200, 20 kgf) was used successfully to measure the weight of a full-grown tomato plant in situ continuously. The crop was grown at a high-wire system. The gauge was positioned between the support wire and the bobbin containing extra string for layering the crop periodically. The analog output of the gauge was connected to a data acquisition system to obtain minute readings. The course of the plant weight reflects the balance between water uptake and transpiration. Daily fresh weight growth could be derived from the daily change in plant weight after correction for layering and the weight of fruits and leaves picked, which could all easily be obtained from the minute readings. The gauge could stand extreme environmental conditions, but seemed to be slightly temperature sensitive (approximately 0.03% °C-1). | |
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