The effect of leaf shape on the interception of solar radiation3 T% R: ~+ {0 P2 Q: X
C.B.S. Teh* 0 p2 G/ A, d2 }1 J8 VDepartment of Land Management, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor,% W4 Y G- B" n C0 p. E3 y# u$ N
Malaysia 1 s' A$ G' f% a; N$ D1 a* w5 Abstract; W$ g8 Z: G; M+ G) p
One of the properties of canopy architecture is leaf shape, and its effect on solar radiation% \1 ^- a5 X: I
interception by a plant is little understood and studied. Consequently, this study was to evaluate6 O) O. `% E# I
the effect of six leaf shapes on both direct and diffuse solar radiation interception using a 2 t/ s9 u: ?6 j& `detailed 3-D solar radiation model. Six hypothetical plant prototypes were computer-generated . [ y+ A/ K% g! c8 ?10 so that each prototype was equal to each other in all aspects; only the leaf shape for each7 I6 I: u$ [$ w% x8 \
prototype was varied. The leaf shapes selected were round (RD), square (SQ), triangle (TR), + o* X8 M X) R4 V% w+ T$ |/ @inverted triangle (ITR), ellipse (EL) and lobe (LB). Computer simulations revealed that leaf" k1 q+ u8 x+ A& ]% s# N
shape did have an effect on direct and diffuse solar radiation interception. However, its effect$ f2 a% a1 X; t- t/ o- [! W
was to a rather small extent of not more than 11% increase in solar radiation interception. The& D/ c6 A; _0 j' Q( i# m* d4 Q
15 mean hourly interception of solar radiation by the prototypes decreased in the following & `6 y( `$ ~( T% cmanner: (ITR ≈ EL) > (RD ≈ SQ ≈ TR ≈ LB). Although leaf lobbing is often hypothesised to- e4 w' r4 b- a+ U% t) t, {# L0 h! Y
produce deeper sunflecks within the canopy, this study however revealed that leaf lobbing per: g) v. O* w, q `) g
se had no effect on solar radiation interception. All properties being equal, solar radiation @: M& f' a8 Z A8 Minterception could be increased by having leaf shapes that are: 1) long and narrow, 2) broader at u% b N' Q- Y* T5 ?20 the apex than at the basal, and 3) supported by leaf petioles. These three conditions increase + E* S _8 T& r6 w! I& J& `! Ksolar radiation interception by causing the canopy to be spread out more uniformly in the aerial" u# e2 F% [: y
space; this, in turn, means less leaf clustering and self-shading. However, the effect of leaf9 ^# I* @, {- ], I2 R# k1 O
shape on solar radiation interception decreases for near or full canopy cover because at this, e0 d3 J2 n& d6 X
stage, the canopy is already intercepting solar radiation at near maximum capacity. Leaf shape - F- [. E; ? b5 O* |25 also did not affect the diurnal variation of direct and diffuse solar radiation interception. This2 i& g0 Y9 j! h5 J3 C u
study may help to better select crop varieties having the “proper leaf form” for optimum plant . x* h/ a' x0 v: a7 T* P Xproduction, as well as to better understand plant adaptation mechanisms in response to 1 h+ q7 m5 G) o5 k ]- ]environmental stresses.' w5 r- R# p1 o2 w+ O3 s5 Q/ z
Keywords: leaf shape; solar radiation; Beer’s law; canopy architecture - }4 r8 s: t5 U6 [5 }* V: A% N " x( |) s- e" A ' A) H1 h) |% _7 Z o 6 o' x$ o# y7 ~% Hleafshape.pdf(409.86 KB, 下载次数: 2)