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Science 1 September 1972:
Vol. 177. no. 4051, pp. 802 - 804
DOI: 10.1126/science.177.4051.802
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Articles

Silver-Foil Psychrometer for Measuring Leaf Water Potential in situ

G. J. Hoffman 1 and S. L. Rawlins 1

1 U.S. Salinity Laboratory, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, P.O. Box 672, Riverside, California 92502

The water potential of leaves in situ can be measured without temperature control with a miniature, single-junction psychrometer constructed from silver foil and attached to the leaf with a silver-impregnated, conductive coating. The temperature of the psychrometer has been found to stay within 0.025°C of the temperature of a simulated leaf when the latter temperature was changing at a rate of 1°C per minute. Leaf water potentials can be measured with a precision of ± 1 bar, or better.

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Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)