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Leaf Angles, Leaf Area, and Canopy Photosynthesis 1
Author(s) -
Duncan W. G.
Publication year - 1971
Publication title -
crop science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.76
H-Index - 147
eISSN - 1435-0653
pISSN - 0011-183X
DOI - 10.2135/cropsci1971.0011183x001100040006x
Subject(s) - canopy , photosynthesis , leaf area index , latitude , biology , range (aeronautics) , botany , agronomy , physics , materials science , astronomy , composite material
For leaf area indices (LAI) of less than approximately 3.0, differences in leaf angle are predicted by computer simulation to have only small effects on canopy photosynthetic rates. For higher LAI values, layers of vertical and horizontal leaves can be arranged to give both the highest and lowest possible rates of canopy photosynthesis for the conditious assumed. These arrangements of leaf layers and angles are not much affected by leaf type or latitude within usual limits. The ratio of highest to lowest photosynthetic rate varied from 1.14 at LAI 3.0 to 2.0 at LAI 10.0. Calculations with one set of corn ( Zea mays L.) descriptions indicate that canopy photosynthetic rates may range from 92% of theoretical maximum at LAI 3.0 to 76% at LAI 7.0.