Siti Nurbaiti, Asri Fajar Milasari, Wiko Arif Wibowo, Elvian Indah Nilamsari, Diah Rachmawati

Assessing Foliar Chlorophyll Content with SPAD-502 Chlorophyll Meter: A Comparison with Spectrophotometer Method in Various Plants

Introduction

Assessing foliar chlorophyll content with spad-502 chlorophyll meter: a comparison with spectrophotometer method in various plants. Assess SPAD-502 chlorophyll meter's accuracy against spectrophotometry in diverse plants. This non-destructive tool shows good correlation for monitoring plant health and nutrient status in agriculture.

Abstract

Measuring chlorophyll content in plants is one of the main points that has never been ignored in various plant biology and agronomy research studies. Chlorophyll content is a parameter of growth and development, diagnosis of nutritional status, and response to environmental conditions. This study aimed to compare and determine the relationship between SPAD-502 chlorophyll meter readings and chlorophyll content obtained from acetone extraction followed by spectrophotometry measurement. Various leaves with different colors and thicknesses were used to determine the reliability of SPAD readings across diverse morphological traits. The results showed higher SPAD readings in leaves with a greener color. SPAD value was found to have a good linear relationship (r 0.8 and R2 0.64) and a positive correlation with total chlorophyll content, though variations due to leaf thickness suggest the need for correction factors. Furthermore, SPAD has potential as a rapid, non-destructive tool for monitoring plant health and nutrient status in agriculture, plant breeding, and horticulture. This tool can contribute to optimizing crop yield and managing fertilization practice, especially where the maintaining leaf integrity is essential for both commercial and aesthetic value. Species-specific calibration models are recommended to enhance measurement accuracy.

Review

This study addresses a pertinent topic in plant science and agronomy, focusing on the practical application and validation of the SPAD-502 chlorophyll meter. The authors clearly articulate their objective: to compare SPAD-502 readings with chlorophyll content derived from the standard spectrophotometric method and to establish their relationship across various plant types. The rationale for this comparison is well-founded, given chlorophyll's established role as a crucial indicator of plant health, nutritional status, and response to environmental stress. The methodological approach of using diverse leaves, varying in color and thickness, is particularly commendable, as it aims to assess the SPAD meter's reliability across different morphological characteristics, enhancing the generalizability of the findings. The core findings indicate a good linear relationship (r 0.8, R2 0.64) and a positive correlation between SPAD readings and total chlorophyll content, lending strong support to the SPAD's utility as an estimative tool. The observation that greener leaves yield higher SPAD readings, while expected, reinforces the meter's basic functionality. Crucially, the abstract highlights variations in readings attributed to leaf thickness, suggesting the necessity for correction factors. This nuanced finding is important, as it acknowledges a known limitation of non-destructive optical meters and provides a practical avenue for improving their accuracy across a wider range of plant species and conditions. In conclusion, the study successfully demonstrates the potential of the SPAD-502 as a rapid, non-destructive tool for monitoring plant health and nutrient status. Its application in agriculture, plant breeding, and horticulture could significantly contribute to optimizing crop yield and managing fertilization practices, particularly where maintaining leaf integrity is vital. The recommendation for developing species-specific calibration models is a critical insight, providing a clear path to enhance measurement accuracy and ensure reliable application in diverse contexts. This research provides valuable data supporting the integration of SPAD meters into routine plant assessment, albeit with the important caveat for tailored calibration.

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