Ht. Chuah et al., MICROWAVE DIELECTRIC-PROPERTIES OF RUBBER AND OIL PALM LEAF SAMPLES -MEASUREMENT AND MODELING, International journal of remote sensing, 18(12), 1997, pp. 2623-2639
This paper contains the results of measured dielectric constants of le
aves of two tropical crops, rubber (Heavea brasiliensis) and oil palm
(Elaeis guineensis) at microwave frequency region. Using a microcomput
er-based automated system consisting of a Wiltron 360B vector network
analyser, measurements are conducted based on the waveguide thin sheet
technique. Leaf samples are inserted within waveguide sections, and t
he dielectric constants are calculated from the complex reflection coe
fficients. The measurements cover a frequency range of 4-18 GHz. In ge
neral, the dielectric constant of a leaf sample is a function of water
content and frequency. Theoretical calculations from three dielectric
mixing models, i.e., the Debye-Cole Dual-Dispersion dielectric model
by Ulaby and Rayes, Matzler's Model and Carlson's Model are compared w
ith the measurements. From the comparisons, the dual-dispersion model
is found to show more promise in prediction of the dielectric constant
s, if proper physical parameters of the model, such as bound and free-
water volume fractions, are used.