Adaptation of beta-ray gauge technique for measurement of water deficit of intact rice leaves

A linear relationship was obtained between the logarithm of count rate and absorber’s (Aluminum foil and leaf) effective thickness in the range of 4.25 to 18.00 mg cm^?2. Also relative water content (RWC) and absorber effective thickness was linearly related (Y = ?89.80 + + 15.84 X, and r = 0.99). From these relationships it was possible to determine the RWC of a rice leaf simply by measuring the radiation intensity of fresh, fully turgid and completely dry leaf by beta ray gauge technique without the added necessity of determining the mass of the leaf.