The effect of leaf shape on the interception of solar radiation( h0 F2 P* F# S6 s
C.B.S. Teh** N) g' e5 e2 ]; @# l3 H( r$ w
Department of Land Management, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor,! l0 s5 z' j* V
Malaysia F2 X7 p" }7 f5 Abstract F5 b7 E* O+ _/ @; [1 n7 P" d
One of the properties of canopy architecture is leaf shape, and its effect on solar radiation( Y$ Z: s& C# A" ^1 J, b
interception by a plant is little understood and studied. Consequently, this study was to evaluate , e5 H5 S |% kthe effect of six leaf shapes on both direct and diffuse solar radiation interception using a$ p. ^6 q8 p' t5 H! q9 u$ j: G
detailed 3-D solar radiation model. Six hypothetical plant prototypes were computer-generated3 {* d$ w- A* Z
10 so that each prototype was equal to each other in all aspects; only the leaf shape for each; k! c3 {* X* L( m! z9 Y/ ~# P
prototype was varied. The leaf shapes selected were round (RD), square (SQ), triangle (TR)," i* a( y6 m* a1 W4 H
inverted triangle (ITR), ellipse (EL) and lobe (LB). Computer simulations revealed that leaf5 p* g- a5 S' O$ T
shape did have an effect on direct and diffuse solar radiation interception. However, its effect9 a# f% q* |% h. j( f
was to a rather small extent of not more than 11% increase in solar radiation interception. The 4 Z7 |4 L9 n7 @! V: ?' s) o! r15 mean hourly interception of solar radiation by the prototypes decreased in the following' M- z) h7 O6 n, W7 |& n" E" s
manner: (ITR ≈ EL) > (RD ≈ SQ ≈ TR ≈ LB). Although leaf lobbing is often hypothesised to 1 H8 z4 R8 ]+ [2 i2 Nproduce deeper sunflecks within the canopy, this study however revealed that leaf lobbing per5 m; W$ [+ c5 f S1 c6 B
se had no effect on solar radiation interception. All properties being equal, solar radiation 8 J& Q' X# }! x5 P% }3 kinterception could be increased by having leaf shapes that are: 1) long and narrow, 2) broader at% |1 B, c5 _6 T2 V
20 the apex than at the basal, and 3) supported by leaf petioles. These three conditions increase 5 O3 s+ y3 B* P4 C# N2 ^! o) s/ isolar radiation interception by causing the canopy to be spread out more uniformly in the aerial: ^2 d- o9 w/ r1 Y9 s3 l6 b, a
space; this, in turn, means less leaf clustering and self-shading. However, the effect of leaf8 m( Q' H9 j4 F$ R5 |
shape on solar radiation interception decreases for near or full canopy cover because at this/ d' X2 m. \+ D/ v8 ]4 V. d
stage, the canopy is already intercepting solar radiation at near maximum capacity. Leaf shape' X/ `) Y, p# t/ D# D" B
25 also did not affect the diurnal variation of direct and diffuse solar radiation interception. This 1 |7 [- P, Q0 ^2 A" g, rstudy may help to better select crop varieties having the “proper leaf form” for optimum plant & d a; u W3 Iproduction, as well as to better understand plant adaptation mechanisms in response to9 \5 u6 `; ]7 x5 r0 j/ ]. f. V. t
environmental stresses. ! Q2 f8 ]6 y# i2 H: S" k& LKeywords: leaf shape; solar radiation; Beer’s law; canopy architecture" b4 ~. z- l {" e9 f! \