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Simple Beta Distribution Representation of Leaf Orientation in Vegetation Canopies 1
Author(s) -
Goel Narendra S.,
Strebel Donald E.
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
agronomy journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.752
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1435-0645
pISSN - 0002-1962
DOI - 10.2134/agronj1984.00021962007600050021x
Subject(s) - canopy , distribution (mathematics) , vegetation (pathology) , spatial distribution , orientation (vector space) , field (mathematics) , beta distribution , mathematics , environmental science , botany , geometry , biology , statistics , mathematical analysis , medicine , pathology , pure mathematics
It is shown that a two‐parameter beta distribution represents very well the leaf angle distribution for a variety of vegetation canopies. Comparison to theoretical distributions as well as field data suggests that this distribution be considered as a candidate for a “universal” leaf angle distribution. The parameters of the distribution can then be used to identify and classify intermediate canopy types and possibly to quantify canopy changes caused by environmental stress.