Q&A for How to Measure Growth Rate of Plants

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Why can measuring mass help measure the plant's growth?

Andrew Carberry, MPH
Food Systems Expert
Andrew Carberry is a Food Systems Expert and the Senior Program Associate at the Wallace Center at Winrock International in Little Rock, Arkansas. He has worked in food systems since 2008 and has experience working on farm-to-school projects, food safety programs, and working with local and state coalitions in Arkansas. He is a graduate of the College of William and Mary and holds a Masters degree in public health and nutrition from the University of Tennessee.

Andrew Carberry, MPH

Food Systems Expert

Expert Answer

Measuring the mass of the plant helps because you can compare the mass as measured at different time points. This works best for plants planted at the same time, in the same conditions if you want to estimate the rate of growth.

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Question

So how do you calculate the rate growth over two weeks?

Community Answer

If two weeks is the total period you will be measuring the leaves, you should measure them every two to three days. Keep a chart with each date of measurement clearly marked. For such a short period of time, you should probably do a size measurement, such as measuring height or leaf size, instead of a weight measurement, such as a fresh or dry weighing.

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Question

Which leaf should you use to measure leaf area?

Community Answer

Try to select a random leaf. While it should be a random leaf, you can avoid certain leaves for a more accurate reading. Do not take a new leaf tip or sprout. Similarly, you should not take a leaf that looks dead.

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Question

What is the difference between plant length and plant height?

shakir shamas

Community Answer

Plant length is taken separately, i.e. root length and shoot length, while plant height is taken from root to leaves (including root, lower stem, middle stem and upper leaves). In simple words, we can say that plant height is the combination of root and shoot (stem and leaves).

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Question

How do I measure the plant's color?

Community Answer

What you can do is: The color of a single leaf is measured by placing the leaf 1 cm above the color scale. It sometimes happens that the reading of leaf color differs with different persons engaged in the measurement. Hence, the average score by several experts is more reliable.

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