The effect of leaf shape on the interception of solar radiation / E& z- V ?/ X+ U5 {C.B.S. Teh* - ~: C B2 h1 u. TDepartment of Land Management, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor,9 |! L; j' S B
Malaysia4 |9 i% d7 p" J6 W) F- F
5 Abstract $ Z# q/ |' w6 i& b, p3 C/ HOne of the properties of canopy architecture is leaf shape, and its effect on solar radiation % Y* N( F, h2 l' w, t, y [interception by a plant is little understood and studied. Consequently, this study was to evaluate1 \0 v" P8 a. o. U
the effect of six leaf shapes on both direct and diffuse solar radiation interception using a8 w9 T3 X( I3 i( E1 n
detailed 3-D solar radiation model. Six hypothetical plant prototypes were computer-generated / Y2 y' M2 J( m, x" x4 A# H10 so that each prototype was equal to each other in all aspects; only the leaf shape for each9 u) A. ]) J7 h/ [/ x. N
prototype was varied. The leaf shapes selected were round (RD), square (SQ), triangle (TR), 6 I9 O$ T; B/ q5 }5 ginverted triangle (ITR), ellipse (EL) and lobe (LB). Computer simulations revealed that leaf; G% ?! M+ A# k1 K v
shape did have an effect on direct and diffuse solar radiation interception. However, its effect % G0 d/ O( X, `, U4 l! |: W/ C* Q9 Owas to a rather small extent of not more than 11% increase in solar radiation interception. The2 j0 @0 }' v {+ `' w$ ]+ U
15 mean hourly interception of solar radiation by the prototypes decreased in the following / T) \4 e: I# h. Gmanner: (ITR ≈ EL) > (RD ≈ SQ ≈ TR ≈ LB). Although leaf lobbing is often hypothesised to8 [3 i5 J# x. [1 D2 Q
produce deeper sunflecks within the canopy, this study however revealed that leaf lobbing per% u, c( V/ x N$ q8 `: n4 k' H0 G! K, V
se had no effect on solar radiation interception. All properties being equal, solar radiation- l- h' Z8 Y6 W! Q7 G+ H
interception could be increased by having leaf shapes that are: 1) long and narrow, 2) broader at& U' v0 F0 g) l' [0 b Y( P/ |! [8 M
20 the apex than at the basal, and 3) supported by leaf petioles. These three conditions increase' s# S7 B* I5 d% f
solar radiation interception by causing the canopy to be spread out more uniformly in the aerial6 w( u3 w) N) N# S
space; this, in turn, means less leaf clustering and self-shading. However, the effect of leaf 0 l. |7 s: j2 j, Q( R" nshape on solar radiation interception decreases for near or full canopy cover because at this: k `7 Z/ d. q) g' D/ B
stage, the canopy is already intercepting solar radiation at near maximum capacity. Leaf shape 9 a4 l) Y5 q1 |" H# y$ |7 Y/ V25 also did not affect the diurnal variation of direct and diffuse solar radiation interception. This n. L+ E* r ]- d2 d- |study may help to better select crop varieties having the “proper leaf form” for optimum plant ; Z4 p" H0 s* H; F$ D& [* j1 |production, as well as to better understand plant adaptation mechanisms in response to. R2 L! u# D/ X1 ?5 F$ e9 w
environmental stresses.7 q; q$ G+ U: @
Keywords: leaf shape; solar radiation; Beer’s law; canopy architecture; e6 B4 J, T2 ^8 h e2 F% R
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