Delta-T Devices SunScan -Â Model SS1 - Canopy Analysis System
The SunScan Canopy Analysis System uses field measurements of Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR) in crop canopies to provide valuable information about Leaf Area Index (LAI) and biomass production. The SunScan canopy analyser is optimised for low regular canopies such as most agricultural crops. The 1m probe enables rapid spatial averaging of large areas and PAR mapping for non-uniform crops such as vineyards and orchards. With the unique BF5 reference PAR sunshine sensor, the SunScan canopy analyser can be used in most weather conditions.
SunScan Probe type SS1
- Active area: 1m x 13 mm wide, sensor spacing 15.6mm
- Spectral response: 400 – 700 nm (PAR)
- Measurement time: 120 ms
- Maximum reading: 2500 µmol.m-2.s-1
- Resolution: 0.3 µmol.m-2.s-1
- Linearity: better than 1%
- Accuracy: ± 10%
- Analogue output: 1 mV per µmol.m-2.s-1
- Serial interface: RS232, 9 pin female ‘D’ connector
- Environmental: IP65, 0 – 60°C working temp
- Size & Weight: 1300(l) x 100(w) x 130(h) mm, 1.7kg
- Power: 4 x AA Alkaline cells (lifetime up to 1 year)
Sunshine Sensor type BF5
- Output sensitivity total & diffuse: 1 mV / µmol.m-2.s-1 PAR cosine corrected
- Accuracy:
- Total ± 12% ± 10 µmol.m-2.s-1
- Diffuse ± 15% ± 10 µmol.m-2.s-1
- Temperature range: -20 to + 50°C with alkaline batteries
- Range: 0 – 2500 µmol.m-2.s-1 (total & diffuse)
- Spectral response: PAR (400-700 nm)
- Power: 2 x AA Alkaline cells (lifetime up to 1 year)
- Input voltage: 5 – 15 V DC (powered from SunScan)
- Size & Weight: 120 x 122 x 95 mm, 635 g
Rugged PDA type RPDA3
- Screen: ¼ VGA sunlight readable
- Operating system: Windows Mobile 6.5
- Display options:
- a) LAI
- b) PAR average
- c) ALL individual sensor readings
- Environmental: IP67, -30°C to 60°C, 1.2 m drop test
- Power: Rechargeable battery, 12h continuous use
- Memory: > 1 million readings
- Size & Weight: 191 x 80 x 35mm, 490g
A 2009 paper* in the Crop Science journal compared the use of SunScan canopy analyser and LAI-2000 systems for estimating LAI on upland rice grown in Benin. The authors found that the SunScan canopy analyser provided a highly significant measurement of LAI up to 4 m2.m-2 compared to destructive sampling (slope of regression line = 1.00, R2 = 0.96) and in summary concluded that the SunScan can be used to estimate LAI of different upland rice cultivars with various types of canopy development. * Sone, C., K. Saito, and K. Futakuchi. 2009. Comparison of Three Methods for Estimating Leaf Area Index of Upland Rice Cultivars. Crop Sci. 49:1438-1443.
Leaf Area Index (LAI) in forests and woodlandsSunScan is ideal for analysing and characterising low regular canopies such as crops. However, for forest and woodland canopies, the Delta-T HemiView system is the correct choice.
An optional radio link connects the SunScan Probe and the BF5 reference sensor, removing the need for long connecting cables. The link operates over the 434MHz licence-free frequency and can transmit up to 250 m line-of-sight or 100 m to 200 m in vegetation.
- Measures incident and transmitted PAR in canopies
- Direct display of Leaf Area Index (LAI)
- Usable in cloudy and clear conditions
- Proven, research-grade canopy analyser
- Ideal for phenotyping applications
