Photosynthesis: principles and field techniques.

Among the people who do photosynthesis research at the leaf, plant or canopy level, the devices used to measure photosynthesis are usually referred to as gas-exchange systems or simply as ‘systems’. The concept that photosynthesis is measured with a system, rather than a single instrument, is an important place to start, for two reasons. First, the system concept emphasizes the fact that we have nothing like a discrete photosynthesis sensor. Photosynthesis is always a calculated parameter, determined from measurements of CO2 concentrations, gas flows and sometimes other parameters, depending on the measurement philosophy. Second, the system concept reminds us that gas-exchange systems typically measure more than just photosynthesis, for the reason that photosynthesis data are greatly enhanced by the simultaneous acquisition of other kinds of information. These two aspects of the system concept also frame the material to be presented in this chapter. Developing the idea of a measurement system, we address the design and construction of gas-exchange systems, considering both measurement principles and the devices that form system components. Emphasizing the measurement and control of parameters other than photosynthesis, we discuss some of the trade-offs that influence the choice of gas-exchange systems for different kinds of research questions.

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