A comparison of systematic errors between the Richards and Hammel methods of measuring tissue – water relations parameters

Abstract

The pressure bomb is being used to a much greater extent to measure some tissue – water relations parameters such as osmotic pressure, turgor pressure, and cell wall elasticity. Recently, Richards has developed a faster pressure-bomb method of obtaining these and other parameters than the method used by Hammel and modified by us. In this paper, we compare the two methods and conclude that Richards’ method should not be used when accuracy is deemed important. The Richards method usually overestimates osmotic pressure by 0.2 MPa (= 2 bars) and sometimes by 0.8 MPa (= 8 bars).