The effect of leaf shape on the interception of solar radiation U8 g" u3 v" T$ p1 W
C.B.S. Teh*9 g, ?2 W2 `- S$ `2 C+ z
Department of Land Management, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor,& r5 y6 ^4 |- n& m; U5 m
Malaysia 0 d* F; ^ Z6 e$ L6 K" U! @5 Abstract& I3 @6 S0 E; P0 M0 p! Y
One of the properties of canopy architecture is leaf shape, and its effect on solar radiation * u! d: f5 g2 K0 F. r1 w! h) Linterception by a plant is little understood and studied. Consequently, this study was to evaluate % c3 P: k' b! g6 h. m& A3 ethe effect of six leaf shapes on both direct and diffuse solar radiation interception using a 7 d' Y3 l; F3 J' x4 h1 `detailed 3-D solar radiation model. Six hypothetical plant prototypes were computer-generated & A5 s! S% e* Z3 t$ u2 z- {10 so that each prototype was equal to each other in all aspects; only the leaf shape for each 7 x& X" u" g7 a/ kprototype was varied. The leaf shapes selected were round (RD), square (SQ), triangle (TR), ) R5 D8 ]5 I$ c3 D- D7 ]/ [inverted triangle (ITR), ellipse (EL) and lobe (LB). Computer simulations revealed that leaf: e8 V5 F# Q/ G" D# `
shape did have an effect on direct and diffuse solar radiation interception. However, its effect! u. f/ Y" B+ v+ ~% m9 h; z1 W
was to a rather small extent of not more than 11% increase in solar radiation interception. The $ X8 W4 i. c) C+ k1 |4 l7 M15 mean hourly interception of solar radiation by the prototypes decreased in the following8 y9 b+ F `( D0 g! @
manner: (ITR ≈ EL) > (RD ≈ SQ ≈ TR ≈ LB). Although leaf lobbing is often hypothesised to) R) \, l+ d4 H
produce deeper sunflecks within the canopy, this study however revealed that leaf lobbing per! }5 w9 e# E" R3 x9 a$ G
se had no effect on solar radiation interception. All properties being equal, solar radiation K W# j! u9 F( M. ointerception could be increased by having leaf shapes that are: 1) long and narrow, 2) broader at1 `1 f5 o+ K: o% T- _
20 the apex than at the basal, and 3) supported by leaf petioles. These three conditions increase * A+ v9 L/ E% ] W; M, o' osolar radiation interception by causing the canopy to be spread out more uniformly in the aerial- |, }: l' a3 d, y [) H
space; this, in turn, means less leaf clustering and self-shading. However, the effect of leaf ) K, H# ]& H4 h* T( z$ D# eshape on solar radiation interception decreases for near or full canopy cover because at this 3 F: ~* M5 l5 W. Dstage, the canopy is already intercepting solar radiation at near maximum capacity. Leaf shape 2 q8 a" p2 @3 u( J0 x25 also did not affect the diurnal variation of direct and diffuse solar radiation interception. This 7 L O" p1 \. q; Y8 p0 c( n, qstudy may help to better select crop varieties having the “proper leaf form” for optimum plant$ y/ i' [6 S( P3 q* r5 J7 z
production, as well as to better understand plant adaptation mechanisms in response to# s3 d( z) }. r2 @5 C
environmental stresses.+ @. |% x: {3 ]( [
Keywords: leaf shape; solar radiation; Beer’s law; canopy architecture + s6 t) b5 m4 H2 ?# t% V0 }1 X) R