The effect of leaf shape on the interception of solar radiation $ v. `% z2 y3 A- o, Q6 D+ lC.B.S. Teh** S/ x( K2 u' U% y/ e1 Y
Department of Land Management, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor,- P! C. M% Y. N8 V7 |8 \6 ^
Malaysia ; {( w2 T" E; [2 j/ Z4 v1 ^5 Abstract . {) O& z8 F9 | GOne of the properties of canopy architecture is leaf shape, and its effect on solar radiation" ~$ K; m' i8 }; d y& Z
interception by a plant is little understood and studied. Consequently, this study was to evaluate4 M) A2 {/ x5 H# D) J% Y- N/ F
the effect of six leaf shapes on both direct and diffuse solar radiation interception using a % V5 ?# J' J/ ]detailed 3-D solar radiation model. Six hypothetical plant prototypes were computer-generated % ?2 K! d5 U* z5 b! L+ Y10 so that each prototype was equal to each other in all aspects; only the leaf shape for each . b4 P" m7 ] kprototype was varied. The leaf shapes selected were round (RD), square (SQ), triangle (TR), ) b/ A& \! V9 ]0 O- [ ?! Pinverted triangle (ITR), ellipse (EL) and lobe (LB). Computer simulations revealed that leaf' a& [7 l4 @8 B9 M7 l
shape did have an effect on direct and diffuse solar radiation interception. However, its effect * _. l" e0 ? U7 L) g7 a9 Xwas to a rather small extent of not more than 11% increase in solar radiation interception. The* J7 x* L; |3 Y
15 mean hourly interception of solar radiation by the prototypes decreased in the following9 b5 j8 u0 F5 {! |; g
manner: (ITR ≈ EL) > (RD ≈ SQ ≈ TR ≈ LB). Although leaf lobbing is often hypothesised to & W* b8 ^) Q8 d- h* x' Nproduce deeper sunflecks within the canopy, this study however revealed that leaf lobbing per7 h6 @8 Y. @: Y% j. W, ^4 ]
se had no effect on solar radiation interception. All properties being equal, solar radiation) R- o$ Z5 c Y$ n1 x- |
interception could be increased by having leaf shapes that are: 1) long and narrow, 2) broader at * a+ v: y& p' ?% {3 `9 Q$ X20 the apex than at the basal, and 3) supported by leaf petioles. These three conditions increase 0 L( N1 K3 P/ q T2 rsolar radiation interception by causing the canopy to be spread out more uniformly in the aerial ^7 L" e; D. b" S. X- K9 W6 }
space; this, in turn, means less leaf clustering and self-shading. However, the effect of leaf 4 z5 p6 i4 j- t8 v6 |1 v8 {shape on solar radiation interception decreases for near or full canopy cover because at this # }! d- Z- h, j9 ~* q; bstage, the canopy is already intercepting solar radiation at near maximum capacity. Leaf shape ' V! e1 y% w: G0 P; y7 ^25 also did not affect the diurnal variation of direct and diffuse solar radiation interception. This * h- I# {- i+ S( j0 L0 W2 estudy may help to better select crop varieties having the “proper leaf form” for optimum plant 0 B2 |* ~+ W- P- v! w, }production, as well as to better understand plant adaptation mechanisms in response to7 c- B9 n/ R5 \
environmental stresses.1 Z& g. I _( d, g, b4 g
Keywords: leaf shape; solar radiation; Beer’s law; canopy architecture ! I7 Y0 Q2 p/ U+ k) q+ u 3 b- p7 W0 E4 S- Q9 |& z) ]# x2 D" Y1 w. d1 X