Measuring Leaf Area

Leaf area will be measured using the graph paper method.

1. print off “1 cm graph paper” (print off at 100%, do NOT "fit-to-page")
2. Select the largest trifoliate from the soybean.
3. Remove the trifoliate
4. trace the outline of each of the three leaflets of the trifoliate on the graph paper (do not outline the petiole, petiolule, or rachis)
5. Count the number of squares that fall completely inside the outline of each of the three leaflets (C)
6. Count the number of squares that fall partially inside the outline of each leaflet (P)
7. Use the following formula to determine the leaf area: leaf area (cm2) = C + 0.5*P
8. See this link for an example
9. See the following websites for more information on why leaf area is important
• Finding the Surface Area of a Leaf (from the American Academy of Sciences)
• How and why measuring leaf area is vital to plant research (CID Bioscience)