METER ACCUPAR LP-80 Canopy Interception and Leaf Area Index

Measuring canopy density can be problematic

There are several methods to measure how much light is intercepted by a canopy in order to determine if water loss is from evaporation or transpiration. There’s the hard way. There’s the expensive way. And then there’s the smart way: the LP-80.

It isn’t a magic wand. Just a smarter one.

The optimal method for measuring fractional PAR (photosynthetically active radiation) is with the LP-80 Ceptometer. It’s a highly accurate way to determine canopy growth and canopy light interception, along with calculating fractional interception and crop coefficient. And because the methodology is mostly automated, it spares you from intensive hand labor, saving you time. The LP-80’s low cost also saves your entire budget from evaporating.

Reliable results never get old

Backed by 15 years of research, the LP-80 is one of the most trusted and relied upon instruments among crop scientists, ecologists, and foresters. Why? One of the main reasons is because it uses radiation measurements and other parameters to accurately calculate leaf area index (LAI) in real time, so you can be confident your data is right while in the field.

Another reason for the LP-80’s popularity is an included external PAR sensor which can be used to make simultaneous above- and below-canopy PAR measurements as a reference for intercepted light in clear, partly cloudy, or even overcast sky conditions. No wonder it’s relied on for publishable measurements year after year.

Automatically the favorite

The LP-80’s simplicity of use has a lot to do with its automation. Rather than the painstaking 4- to 5-hour destructive method of running leaves through a conveyor belt, the LP-80 instead measures the photosynthetically active radiation that is impinging on the measurement wand. This is also a lot easier than the other time-consuming, multi-step alternative of placing a camera beneath a canopy, taking a picture with a fisheye lens and then using software for photo analysis.

LP-80 doesn’t just automate the measurement, but also the data itself. Even in raw form, data are collected, stored, and can even be downloaded so you can analyze your data anywhere. This allows you to look at correlations to make sure what you saw in the field is consistent with your measurements. In addition, the attached controller can be used to take measurements manually or log data unattended for short periods of time. Because it’s so simple to use, the LP-80 continues to be the automatic choice for those that want to save a lot of time and labor.

The same measurements for less

The LP-80 costs less than competitor instruments that make the exact same measurements. It weighs less as well. At a little over one pound (0.5 kg), it’s not only lightweight, but smaller and self-contained, so it’s easier to carry around. And because the display is integrated with the measurement wand, you aren’t burdened by having to bring a separate instrument to read data. There aren’t any complex sets of buttons or screens to navigate either, allowing the LP-80 to provide the most value for less everything.

Accurate. Automated. Affordable.

A lightweight, portable, linear array of PAR sensors designed for real time, non-destructive LAI measurements, the LP-80 has you covered when it comes to reliable results, along with time, labor, and cost savings.