Measuring area of 10 leaves in only 10 seconds? Easy!
Measuring area of 10 leaves seems to be not a too difficult task. However, in terms of time, it can be extremely time consuming. Particularly, if an agronomist use the wrong method for leaf area measurement. In this article, we would like to tell you about the real experience of applying Petiole for leaf area measurement by ecologist Vyacheslav Bykov.
Vyacheslav Bykov is a graduate of Agrotechnology and Ecology Department of the Tavria State Agrotechnological University (TSAU). Also he is a leading engineer at the Institute of Evolutionary Ecology of the National Academy of Science of Ukraine. He decided to share his feedback and provides insights about his scientific work.
The latest experience
I would like to share my latest experience with you – at my official job, we had to measure leaves of Bolle’s poplar (Pōpulus pyramidālis). We had six tests with 250 leaves in each. Totally, it was a big amount of work. Our task was to measure the surface area of all leaves and we outlined them on graph paper, calculate square centimetres, but we had many errors and decided to find a new method. This was scanning of leaves, using special software to a colour image. This application estimates the number of pixels. After that, using the third software, we calculated an area of the colour fill area. So it was a very long and labour-intensive process.
A magic wand for measuring area of 10 leaves
I would ask this magic wand that an area of the leaf, which I am measuring now, will be transferred into the required cell of Microsoft Excel. Hence, I will speed up the process of leaf surface area measurement and also – to obtain the results of my research. Measuring leaf area provides ambiguous value but we can extract very interesting data using it. For example, adaptive potential, an area of photosynthetic activity in a field. It is possible to define these parameters with this number. Consequently, if I had a magic wand – I would surely use it for its intended purposes.
Why Petiole?
Learn from experience, a highly interesting and fascinating application. It is the 21st century now – the age of computers, almost everyone has an Android mobile phone. I have the same phone too. After installing Petiole to my phone, I have measured leaf area of ten plant leaves just in three minutes. I could not believe in my happiness since before I spent hours on this simple but so important (and annoying) task.
In other words, I have done the required measurements very quickly. Also, the authors of this great invention told me, that it is possible to measure leaf area exactly staying near the tree. Or being in the field. Or in the lab. Thanks to a special measuring stand it is a reality now. So I think this is a great thing. Petiole app is a very interesting and cool application for my professional use and colleagues who are doing agriculture science. I will use it, honestly.
Measuring area of 10 leaves seems to be not a too difficult task. However, in terms of time, it can be extremely time consuming. Particularly, if an agronomist uses the wrong method for leaf area measurement.
With Petiole Pro we want to give the right instruments to the experts.
Full video (with English subtitles) of the interview with Vyacheslav Bykov, a leading agriculture engineer at the Institute of Evolutionary Ecology, you can find below:
source: youtube
Petiole app for measuring area of 10 leaves and… more!
Petiole app is a mobile application, which measures plant leaf area and chlorophyll content using a camera on a mobile phone in real time. This information can help agronomists, agricultural scientists, crop-protection and seed companies to get more valuable plants, yields and insights. In November 2015, Petiole was ranked among the ‘20 Hottest Startup Ideas of the Year’ by the American business channel CNBC.
In brief, Petiole is an agritech company focused on research and development of solutions to improve agricultural research as well as decision-making about yields. Petiole provides accurate data with an advanced platform of measuring tools for horticulture and floriculture. The main task of Petiole Pro, as the flagman mobile application in the portfolio of the company, is to help researchers make faster, more informed decisions.
As of now, the team of Petiole works with agriculture’s leading research institutions to remove technical challenges of specific leaf area measurement. However, the wider focus of Petiole is linked to agricultural research, agricultural chemistry, education, arable farming, ecology and horticulture.
