A critical review of light models for estimating the shortwave radiation regime of plant canopies

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Abstract

A general review of geometrical and statistical light models is presented in this paper. In the geometrical approach plant shapes are simulated by various geometrical forms described by characteristic dimensions. Geometrical models may be divided into two classes — those which consider individual shapes and those which consider an arrangement of shapes. In the statistical approach the location of plant elements is parameterized by various distributions. The type of leaf dispersion in space is the most important consideration in statistical models. Four different types of leaf dispersion are considered in this review: regular leaf dispersion, clumped leaf dispersion, random leaf dispersion, and variable leaf dispersion.

Hypotheses which underlie the various random and more generalized types of statistical light models are presented. Several models in the literature are discussed in terms of these assumptions.

Although, in many cases, required plant data and actual light measurements in the field are grossly inadequate for experimental verification of light models, it appears that the light regime in plant canopies can be adequately described by those models already available. However, for the most part, these models are very complex and a synthesis of these fundamental models into workable expressions that can be used by agronomists, crop ecologists and others concerned with breeding plants for more efficient interception of light is needed.

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    Published as Paper No. 3702, Journal Series, Nebraska Agricultural Experiment Station.

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