Low-cost clamp for the measurement of vegetation spectral signatures

Spectral signatures allow the characterization of a surface from the reflected or emitted energy along the electromagnetic spectrum. This type of measurement has several potential applications in precision agriculture. However, capturing the spectral signatures of plants requires specialized instruments, either in the field or the laboratory. The cost of these instruments is high, so their incorporation in crop monitoring tasks is not massive, given the low investment in agricultural technology. This paper presents a low-cost clamp to capture spectral leaf signatures in the laboratory and the field. The clamp can be 3D printed using PLA (polylactic acid); it allows the connection of 2 optical fibers: one for a spectrometer and one for a light source. It is designed for ease of use and holds a leave firmly without causing damage, allowing data to be collected with less disturbance. The article compares signatures captured directly using a fiber and the proposed clamp; noise reduction across the spectrum is achieved with the clamp.