Use Leaf Area Ratio when you need to compute the leaf area ratio in square centimetres of leaf per gram of total plant dry mass. Enter Total leaf area and Plant dry mass using the definitions and units below so the result can be reproduced.

Total leaf area

A finite measured or assumed value, expressed in cm².

Plant dry mass

A finite measured or assumed value, expressed in g.

The published tool contract uses this rule: Compute the leaf area ratio in square centimetres of leaf per gram of total plant dry mass.

Leaf area ratio

The calculated leaf area ratio in cm²/g.

A ratio or percentage can conceal the scale of its numerator and denominator and becomes sensitive to measurement error when the denominator is small.

Retain the original Total leaf area and Plant dry mass values and their units alongside the result. Specific Leaf Area is useful when you instead need to compute specific leaf area SLA in square centimetres per gram as one-sided leaf area divided by leaf dry mass. LMA provides another view by helping you compute leaf mass per area LMA in grams per square metre as leaf dry mass divided by leaf area converted from square centimetres.

• Specific Leaf Area

  Compute specific leaf area SLA in square centimetres per gram as one-sided leaf area divided by leaf dry mass.

• LMA

  Compute leaf mass per area LMA in grams per square metre as leaf dry mass divided by leaf area converted from square centimetres.

• LAI Calculator

  Compute the leaf area index as total one-sided leaf area divided by the ground surface area it covers.