Title: Mechanical Measurements of Crops and Soils: Principles and Techniques

Session Description: Characterizing the mechanical response of plant tissues and addressing agricultural problems such as root lodging, stalk lodging, and fruit drop requires accurate measurement of mechanical forces. This workshop will describe engineering best practices for acquiring such measurements and discuss common pitfalls and measurement errors. Topics to be covered include (1) standard test types (tension, bending, compression, and shear); (2) standard instrumentation for measuring forces; (3) methods for measuring deformation and strain; and (4) common problems encountered in performing mechanical tests and strategies for avoiding these problems. Participants will leave the workshop with a much better understanding of how to design, perform, and evaluate mechanical testing techniques and methodologies.