Arugula, Collard greens, Kale, Romaine lettuce, and Swiss chard settings now available for the Apogee MC-100 Chlorophyll Meter. Click the "New Coefficients" button below to learn how to add these species to your MC-100.
Note: A recent software bug was discovered affecting MC-100 serial nubers 1525 - 1558. To fix this bug, you will need to follow the directions on this page: MC-100 Firmware Update Instructions.
This bug caused continuous beeping, freezes on calibration, and failures to find calibration files.
| MC-100 | |
|---|---|
| Default Display Unit | µmol of chlorophyll per m2 of leaf surface |
| Optional Display Units | CCI, SPAD |
| Measurement Area | 63.9 mm2 (9 mm standard diameter), 19.6 mm2 (5 mm diameter with reducer) |
| Resolution | ± 10 µmol m-2 chlorophyll concentration using generic equation |
| Linearity | ± 1 % |
| Repeatability | ± 1 % |
| Sample Acquisition Time | Less than 3 s |
| Storage Capacity | 8 MB for up to 160,000 data measurements |
| Internal GPS Storage | 8 MB for up to 94,000 data measurements |
| User Interface | 50 mm by 15 mm graphic display screen, 8 push buttons for control and data manipulation |
| Data Output | Mini-B USB port provided for main data transfer |
| Measured Variables | Ratio of optical transmission at 931 nm to optical transmission of 653 nm |
| Operating Temperature | 0 to 50 C |
| Temperature Drift | Temperature compensated source and detector circuitry over full range |
| Power Requirement | Standard 9 V DC alkaline battery |
| Dimensions | 152 mm length, 82 mm width, 25 mm height |
| Mass | 210 g |
Adding New Species to the MC-100
If you can't access the video via Youtube, click here.
How and Why to Measure Chlorophyll
Chlorophyll Meter User Guide
If you can't access the video via Youtube, click here.
Chlorophyll Meter Quick Overview
If you can't access the video via Youtube, click here.
Chlorophyll Meter in Depth
If you can't access the video via Youtube, click here.
Lecture 7-Leaf Chlorophyll Concentration
Chlorophyll is a green pigment found in plant cells, algae cells, and cyanobacteria. The primary function of chlorophyll molecules is radiation absorption, which provides energy essential for photosynthesis.
Hand-held chlorophyll meters typically provide a relative indication of chlorophyll in plant leaves. The patented Apogee model MC-100 chlorophyll concentration meter measures relative chlorophyll content and outputs an estimate of actual chlorophyll concentration in units of µmol per m2 of leaf surface (µmol m-2); mass per area of leaf surface, milligrams per square meter (mg m-2), has also been used.
The MC-100 provides an alternative to destructive sampling techniques for determining chlorophyll concentration. Non-destructive measurements are less time consuming and labor intensive and allows for leaves to be measured and monitored over an entire growth cycle. The meter is designed to make rapid replicate measurements of the same leaf or multiple leaves and stores the data for later use.
Applications include:
• Chlorophyll concentration determination for plant nutrient status assessment, environmental stress impact, and fertilizer requirement
If you would like to share your application of this product, please click here
When Apogee released the MC-100, it came with 22 different crop specific coefficients plus a generic setting for all other crops. Since then, we have added some species and will continue to do so upon popular request. These new coefficients are linked here and can be added following the instructions below. Please note that MC-100 meters with a serial number less than 1402 were only programmed to be able to hold up to 27 crop specific coefficients at a time. This can be a limiting factor as we build the library of available coefficients. If you have a unit with this limitation, you can easily upgrade the software by following the instructions linked HERE >.
1. Extract the files contained in the zip file located in the link above.
2. Plug the micro USB cable into your MC-100's USB port.
3. Plug the other end of the USB cable into your computer.
4. Turn the MC-100 on, and press the "Data" button. The MC-100 should now show up as a connected device on your computer.
5. On your computer, access the MC-100. You should now see a list of files with a .tab extension.
6. Copy the new .tab files extracted from the zip file into your MC-100 with the other .tab files.
7. On the MC-100, press the "Eject" button.
1. In the MC-100 home menu, press the "Run" button.
2. Press the "Setup" button.
3. Press the "up" arrow button once to access the "Use custom measurement" menu.
4. Press the "Edit" button.
5. Change the highlighted option from "no" to "yes" using the "up" or "down" arrow buttons.
6. Press the "right" arrow button once.
7. Use the "up" arrow and "down" arrow buttons to scroll through the coefficients files and confirm that the new files are listed.
8. To use a custom unit file, simply press the "Accept" button.
Helpful Articles and Links
GPS Software Update Installation Instructions - v19a
Software Fix for Serial Numbers 1525 - 1558
Sample Chamber Gasket Replacement Instructions
In situ Measurement of Leaf Chlorophyll Concentration: Analysis of the Optical/Absolute Relationship
Sensitivity of Seven Diverse Species to Blue and Green Light: Interactions with Photon Flux
Field and Airborne Spectroscopy and its Application to Remote Sensing of a Wetland Environment
What do I do when the Apogee logo displays, but the screen then goes completely dark or light?
After the screen goes completely dark or light, try holding down the up or down arrows to adjust the contrast.
What do I do when the meter powers on and beeps, but nothing is showing on the screen?
Perform an extended power cycle by removing the battery from the unit and letting it sit out over night. Try reinserting the battery and powering the unit on the next day.
FAQs