The effect of leaf shape on the interception of solar radiation
2004
Teh, C. B. S. | Henson, I. E. | Goh, K. J. | Husni M. H. A.
One of the properties of canopy architecture is leaf shape, and its effect on solar radiation interception by a plant is little understood and studied. Consequently, this study was to evaluate the effect of six leaf shapes on both direct and diffuse solar radiation interception using a detailed 3-D solar radiation model. Six hypothetical plant prototypes were computer-generated so that each prototype was equal to each other in all aspects; only the leaf shape for each prototype was varied. The leaf shapes selected were round (RD), square (SQ), triangle (TR), inverted triangle (ITR), ellipse (EL) and lobe (LB). Computer simulations revealed that leaf shape did have an effect on direct and diffuse solar radiation interception. However, its effect was to a rather small extent of not more than 11% increase in solar radiation interception. The mean hourly interception of solar radiation by the prototypes decreased in the following manner: (ITR= EL) > (RD = SQ = TR = LB). Although leaf lobbing is often hypothesised to produce deeper sunflecks within the canopy, this study however revealed that leaf lobbing per se had no effect on solar radiation interception. All properties being equal, solar radiation interception could be increased by having leaf shapes that are: 1) long and narrow, 2) broader at the apex than at the basal, and 3) supported by leaf petioles. These three conditions increase solar radiation interception by causing the canopy to be spread out more uniformly in the aerial space; this, in turn, means less leaf clustering and selfshading. However, the effect of leaf shape on solar radiation interception decreases for near or full canopy cover because at this stage, the canopy is already intercepting solar radiation at near maximum capacity. Leaf shape also did not affect the diurnal variation of direct and diffuse solar radiation interception. This study may help to better select crop varieties having the "proper leaf form" for optimum plant production, as well as to better understand plant adaptation mechanisms in response to environmental stresses.
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