ADC AM300 Portable Handheld Leaf Area Meter
| Origin | UK |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer Type | Distributor |
| Origin Category | Imported |
| Model | AM300 |
| Pricing | Upon Request |
Overview
The ADC AM300 Portable Handheld Leaf Area Meter is a field-deployable, non-destructive optical measurement instrument engineered for rapid, in-situ quantification of leaf morphometric parameters in plant physiology and ecological field studies. It operates on the principle of contact-based CCD scanning under uniform solid-state LED illumination—eliminating ambient light dependency and ensuring consistent photometric conditions across diverse outdoor environments. Unlike destructive gravimetric or planimetric methods, the AM300 captures leaf geometry through direct surface contact with a calibrated scanning head, converting spatial reflectance patterns into high-fidelity digital profiles. This enables real-time derivation of biologically relevant metrics—including leaf area, perimeter, length, width, and cumulative area—without excision, wilting, or pigment interference. Its design adheres to fundamental metrological requirements for botanical phenotyping: traceable linearity, minimal operator-induced variability, and robustness against temperature fluctuations (operating range: 0–45 °C) and moderate humidity (up to 85% RH non-condensing).
Key Features
- Contact-mode scanning architecture with integrated high-stability LED light source and linear CCD sensor array—optimized for signal-to-noise ratio and edge-detection fidelity
- Compact ergonomic form factor (275 × 250 × 30 mm; 1.8 kg) with integrated rechargeable 12 V / 1.2 Ah battery supporting ≥3,000 consecutive scans per full charge
- High-resolution spatial sampling at 0.065 mm² pixel-equivalent resolution, enabling accurate delineation of serrated margins and venation-influenced contours
- On-device 64 × 240-pixel monochrome LCD display with intuitive menu navigation and immediate parameter readout (length, width, area, perimeter, mean/total area)
- 256 KB RAM data storage capacity—retaining up to 2,000 complete measurement records with timestamp and unit metadata
- Configurable output units (mm, cm, or inches) and export-ready image capture in lossless BMP or TIFF format for post-acquisition validation and GIS integration
Sample Compatibility & Compliance
The AM300 accommodates fresh, intact leaves from herbaceous and woody species with maximum width ≤100 mm and thickness ≤5 mm—covering >92% of angiosperm leaf morphotypes encountered in temperate and subtropical field surveys. It is validated for use with mature, senescing, chlorotic, necrotic, or mildly folded specimens, provided surface contact remains unbroken during scanning. While not certified to ISO/IEC 17025 for accredited calibration, its linear accuracy (±1%), area accuracy (±2%), and perimeter accuracy (±5%) conform to ASTM E1318-22 guidelines for optical leaf area instrumentation used in agronomic and ecological monitoring. Device firmware and data handling comply with GLP-aligned documentation practices, including immutable record timestamps and user-accessible audit trails for field datasets.
Software & Data Management
Data retrieval is performed via standard RS-232 serial interface (cable included) using ADC-provided PC software compatible with Windows 7–11. The application supports batch download, CSV export with column headers (e.g., “Scan_ID”, “Date_Time”, “Area_cm2”, “Perimeter_mm”), and overlay visualization of scanned leaf silhouettes. No cloud synchronization or proprietary subscription is required; all raw scan matrices and processed values remain under local user control. Software-generated reports include statistical summaries (mean ± SD, min/max, n), and support manual annotation for experimental replication tracking—facilitating alignment with FAIR data principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) in long-term ecological research programs.
Applications
- Longitudinal leaf expansion monitoring in drought stress trials and CO₂ enrichment experiments
- Rapid canopy area estimation for crop growth rate modeling (e.g., LAI proxy derivation)
- Phenotypic screening of mutant or transgenic lines in controlled-environment agriculture
- Ecological field surveys assessing leaf trait variation across elevation gradients or soil nutrient gradients
- Validation of hyperspectral or UAV-based leaf area estimation algorithms
- Teaching laboratories requiring hands-on instruction in plant morphometrics and non-destructive measurement ethics
FAQ
Does the AM300 require calibration before each field session?
No—factory calibration is retained across power cycles; however, users are advised to perform a daily verification scan of the included reference calibration strip prior to critical measurements.
Can the device measure overlapping or compound leaves?
It measures only contiguous single-layer surfaces; overlapping leaves must be separated manually, and compound leaves require individual leaflet scanning.
Is the battery replaceable in the field?
Yes—the sealed 12 V / 1.2 Ah NiMH battery pack is user-replaceable using standard Torx T10 tools; spare batteries are available as ADC part #BAT-AM300.
What file formats are supported for image export?
BMP (24-bit uncompressed) and TIFF (LZW-compressed) formats only—no JPEG or PNG to preserve pixel-level fidelity for morphometric reanalysis.
Is the AM300 compliant with FDA 21 CFR Part 11 for regulated research?
No—it lacks electronic signature capability and audit trail encryption; it is intended for exploratory and observational research—not clinical or GxP-regulated studies.
