Document Type
Research Poster
Publication Date
4-11-2017
Abstract
Salvia apiana, due to the physically lighter color and thickness of the leaves, will have higher reflectance values, lower transmittance values, and lower absorbance values than Salvia mellifera. These measurements exemplify characteristics of a better adapted species for droughts, and then the absorption values can be used to calculate more information on the species like ERT. We measured transmittance and reflectance of six leaves from randomly selected plants of both species through the use of an integrating sphere. After obtaining the R and T value of each plant, we calculated the leaf absorbance,α. This was done by using the equation α = 1 - R - T. We found the S. mellifera had a lower reflectance value with a mean around 12% compared to the S. apiana that had a mean around 25%. The S. mellifera had a transmittance around 7% while the S. apiana was only around 3%. The absorbance values were closer than expected. The S. mellifera mean was 80% while the S. apiana was 70%. All of our data was found significant by a Student’s t-test, and this allowed us to accept our hypothesis that Salvia apiana is better adapted for drought.
Recommended Citation
Bekins, Haley; Boone, Caroline; and Hardin, Kristen, "Reflectance, Transmittance, and Absorbance Values in Salvia apiana
Result in Better Performance than Salvia mellifera in Drought- like Conditions" (2017). Pepperdine University, Featured Research. Paper 182.
https://digitalcommons.pepperdine.edu/sturesearch/182