SPADmätare

SPADmätare is a term often used in the context of measuring chlorophyll content in plants. SPAD itself stands for "Soil Plant Analysis Development," referring to a portable chlorophyll meter developed by Konica Minolta. A SPADmätare, therefore, is a device used to measure the relative chlorophyll content of a plant leaf.

These meters work by measuring the absorbance of light by the leaf at specific wavelengths. Chlorophyll absorbs light strongly in the red and blue portions of the spectrum and reflects green light. A SPADmätare typically emits light at two wavelengths, one that is absorbed by chlorophyll and another that is not. The ratio of the transmitted light at these two wavelengths is then calculated and presented as a SPAD value. This value is directly related to the amount of chlorophyll present in the leaf tissue.

SPADmätare are non-destructive, meaning they can be used to measure chlorophyll content without damaging the plant. This makes them a valuable tool for various applications in agriculture, horticulture, and plant science research. Farmers and researchers use SPADmätare to assess plant health, monitor nutrient deficiencies (particularly nitrogen), optimize fertilizer application, and track plant growth and development. Higher SPAD values generally indicate healthier, more photosynthetically active leaves. The readings can also be correlated with actual chlorophyll concentrations and crop yields under specific conditions.