About PlantSensors
PlantSensors is an award-winning business in design and manufacture of Granier Sap Flow Measurement System (aka TDP Sap Flow System) that was originally invented by Prof. André Granier in 1985.
Since 1994 PlantSensors (Australian Business Number-ABN 55302167855) has specialised in manufacturing Granier’s TDP sap flow sensors and complete sap flow system in Australia.
PlantSensors was established by scientist for the scientist at the request of the Deputy Chief of CSIRO Plant Industry. Our founder Dr. Ping Lu was a PhD student and Post Doctoral Fellow supervised by Prof. Granier in 1987-1994. Our very first customer was CSIRO – Australia’s National Science Agency.
Our Achievements
- Grew an international client base in 27 countries, built on a reputation for quality and demonstrated high reliability of PlantSensors sap flow system in hot and humid tropics;
- Winner of the Australia Northern Territory Innovation and Export Awards in 2019, 2021, 2022;
- National finalist for the Australian Export Awards in 2019, 2021 and 2022. https://www.exportawards.gov.au/stories/finalists-2022/2022sustainability
About the Granier sap flow system
The whole system is schematised in the picture. It includes sensor probes, Precision power supply unit for the sap flow sensors, datalogger, heat-averaging tubes, 4-cores data cable, external battery and/or solar panel.
The Granier sap flow sensor includes two probes inserted in the stem with one probe 10-15cm above the other. The upper probe is heated by applying a constant current across a coiled heating element, giving a constant power. The lower probe is not heated and measures ambient tissue temperature.
The temperature difference between the two probes is measured with T-type thermocouples junctions embodied in each probe. Heat dissipation due to sap movement reduces the temperature difference. The temperature difference is found to be closely related to the sap flux density and their relationship is found to be independent of tree species or wood anatomy (Granier 1987; Lu et al, 2004).
Granier’s sap flow measuring system (Granier, 1985, 1987; Lu et al, 2004) stands for its simplicity and versatility and is now the mostly used method by tree ecophysiologists and forest hydrologists in the world.
PlantSensors’ TDP sensors are made truly according to Granier’s original design and they perfectly fit to Granier’s original calibration.
PlantSensors’ sap flow system is considered by many leadings scientists in forest ecology to be the most reliable system under hot and humid conditions.
