Weights and Measures: Converting Garden Measurements
The planning, building, and maintaining of an indoor garden requires a variety of calculations. Although it would be simple and straightforward to have one system of measurement, the U.S. remains the only industrialized country in the world that uses the imperial system as its main system of measurement. It is important for indoor gardeners to be able to convert from imperial to metric and vice versa because fertilizer, lighting, ventilation, and HVAC companies may use different measurement systems for their recommendations. Below are a series of conversion charts that indoor growers can use to make conversions between imperial and metric systems.
Capacity Measure (Liquid Volume)
Conversions for liquid volume measurements will help growers with fertilizer dosage, pesticide dilution, hydroponic reservoir capacities, and other irrigation-related measurements.
|
IMPERIAL
|
METRIC |
|
1 US liquid teaspoon |
4.92 ml
|
|
1 US liquid Tablespoon |
14.78 ml
|
|
1 (US liquid) fl. oz. (1/16 US pint) |
29.57 ml |
|
1 (US liquid) gill (1/4 US pint) |
118.29 ml |
|
1 (US liquid) pint (16 fl. US oz.) |
473.18 ml |
|
1 (US Liquid) quart (32 fl. US oz) |
946.35 ml |
|
1 (US liquid) gallon (4 quarts) |
4.546 liters |
|
METRIC |
IMPERIAL |
|
1 millilitre |
0.002 (imperial) pint |
|
1 centilitre (10 ml) |
0.018 pint |
|
1 deciliter (100 ml) |
0.176 pint |
|
1 litre (1000 ml) |
1.76 pints |
Mass (Weight)
Weight or mass conversions can be used by horticulturists for more accurate dry fertilizer dosage and figuring the dry weight of culinary herbs or produce.
|
IMPERIAL |
METRIC |
|
1/16 ounce (1 dram) |
1.772 grams |
|
1/8 ounce (2 dram) |
3.544 grams |
|
1/4 ounce (4 dram) |
7.087 grams |
|
1/2 ounce (8 dram) |
14.17 grams |
|
1 ounce (16 drams) |
28.35 grams |
|
1 pound (16 ounces or 7,000 grains) |
0.453 kilogram |
|
METRIC |
IMPERIAL |
|
1 milligram |
0.015 grain |
|
1 gram (1,000 mg) |
15.43 grain |
|
1 hectogram (100 g) |
3.527 ounces |
|
1 kilogram (1,000 g) |
2.205 pounds |
|
1 tonne (1,000 kg) |
0.984 ton |
Read also:
Temperature
Indoor growers can use the following temperature conversions to convert Fahrenheit to Celsius and vice versa. Growroom temperatures are important to horticulturists, but those who make plant extracts also need precise temperatures.
To convert from Fahrenheit to Celsius, subtract 32, then multiply by 0.5556 (or 5/9).
To convert from Celsius to Fahrenheit, multiply by 1.8 (or 9/5), then add 32.
|
FAHRENHEIT |
CELSIUS |
|
5 degrees |
-15 degrees |
|
10 degrees |
-12 degrees |
|
25 degrees |
-4 degrees |
|
32 degrees |
0 degrees |
|
50 degrees |
10 degrees |
|
100 degrees |
37 degrees |
|
200 degrees |
93 degrees |
|
212 degrees |
100 degrees |
|
250 degrees |
121 degrees |
|
300 degrees |
150 degrees |
|
325 degrees |
160 degrees |
|
350 degrees |
180 degrees |
|
400 degrees |
200 degrees |
Length/Distance
Length/distance and area are useful for setting up an indoor growroom, calculating artificial lighting needs, and/or determining the area of an outdoor garden or farm.
|
IMPERIAL |
METRIC |
|
1 inch |
25.4 millimeters |
|
1 foot (12 inches) |
0.3048 meter |
|
1 yard (3 feet) |
0.9144 meter |
|
METRIC |
IMPERIAL |
|
1 millimeter |
0.0394 inch |
|
1 centimeter (10 mm) |
0.3937 inch |
|
1 decimeter (10 cm) |
3.937 inches |
|
1 meter (100 cm) |
1.0936 yards |
|
1 decameter (10 m) |
10.936 yards |
Area (Square Measure)
|
IMPERIAL |
METRIC |
|
1 square inch |
6.4516 sq. centimeters |
|
1 square foot (144 square inches) |
9.29 square decimeters |
|
1 square yard (9 square feet) |
0.8361 square meters |
|
1 acre (4,840 square yards) |
0.40469 hectare |
|
1 square mile (640 acres) |
259 hectares |
|
METRIC |
IMPERIAL |
|
1 square centimeter |
0.1550 sq. inch |
|
1 square meter (10,000 sq. cm) |
1.1960 sq. yards |
|
1 hectare |
2.4711 acres |
|
1 square kilometer |
0.3861 sq. mile |
Cubic Measure (Volume)
For indoor growers, understanding the cubic measure of a grow space is imperative for ventilation. Calculating loads for intake, exhaust, and HVAC equipment will all require cubic measurements along with other variables.
|
IMPERIAL |
METRIC |
|
1 cubic foot (1,728 cubic inches) |
0.0283 cubic meters |
|
1 cubic yard (27 cubic feet) |
0.765 cubic meters |
|
METRIC |
IMPERIAL |
|
1 cubic meter (one million cu. cm) |
1.308 cubic yards |
Indoor horticulturists who can convert from imperial to metric will be able to quickly and accurately take important measurements in their growrooms. From fertilizing to calculating lighting for an area to knowing the cubic volume of a space for ventilation, indoor growers are constantly taking measurements that will affect the performance of their gardens. Those who can accurately convert these measurements based on manufacturer recommendations will be that much more successful.
