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A Hand Caliper for Measuring Thickness of Soybean Pods 1
Author(s) -
McWilliams J. M.,
Hatchett J. H.,
Stadelbacher E. A.
Publication year - 1977
Publication title -
agronomy journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.752
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1435-0645
pISSN - 0002-1962
DOI - 10.2134/agronj1977.00021962006900010034x
Subject(s) - point of delivery , calipers , yield (engineering) , horticulture , elongation , mathematics , glycine , agronomy , biology , materials science , ultimate tensile strength , composite material , biochemistry , amino acid , geometry
A precise, quantitative measure of pod growth, applicable from early pod elongation to full‐size green beans, was needed to determine the relationship of soybean [ Glycine max (L.) Merr] pod maturity to insect seed feeding damage. Since pods increase in thickness as the seeds develop, measurements of pod thickness can be used for this purpose. A “V” type hand caliper that provided direct thickness measurements of pods in increments of 0.5 mm was devised. The change in pod thickness of a determinate soybean variety was determined by measurements taken in the field at different times during pod growth. The rate of increase in thickness was not uniform but averaged 0.5 mm/4 days. Characterization of pod growth by thickness has potential for relating pod development to insect damage and may have additional application for the study of other stress factors on yield.