A new method using near-infrared and photosynthetically active radiation can estimate leaf area in leafy vegetable canopies without harming the plants. This method works well for short plants like spinach, showing better accuracy than other traditional methods when the leaf area is high. By measuring these radiation levels every 10 minutes, researchers could track the leaf area growth accurately throughout the plant's life cycle. However, errors may occur if the sensors are not placed correctly or if the weather is not suitable for measurements. This study shows that this method can be useful for estimating leaf area in horticultural crops, but some limitations need to be considered.