Light Absorption and Competition in Mixed Communities of Hordeum Leporinum-Euphorbia Scordifolia

The effect of Euphorbia scordifolia and Hordeum leporinum competition on leaf area development, radiant energy absorption, and dry matter production was evaluated in a field experiment. Profile measurements (0-0.3, 0.3-0.6, 0.6-0.9, and >0.9 m above ground) of absorbed photosynthetically active radiation (APAR) and leaf area index (LAI) by species were taken at four densities of E. scordifolia (0, 1, 4, and 12 plants per m²). APAR calculated for H. leporinum in mixed communities was 79, 77, and 49 % of the APAR in H. leporinum and LAI was reduced to 81, 65, and 37 %. LAI of H. leporinum was concentrated in the 0.3-0.6 m layer, while the taller E. scordifolia plants had the greatest LAI above 0.6 m. By absorbing radiant energy in the upper canopy, E. scordifolia reduced APAR penetrating to H. leporinum. Measurements of net photosynthetic and transpiration rates, leaf temperature, and stomatal conductance confirmed the importance of competition for PAR for plant growth and metabolism.     

Insufficient nitrogen supply from symbiotic fixation reduces seasonal crop growth and nitrogen mobilization to seed in highly productive soybean crops

Nitrogen (N) supply can limit the yields of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] in highly productive environments. To explore the physiological mechanisms underlying this limitation, seasonal changes in N dynamics, aboveground dry matter (ADM) accumulation, leaf area index (LAI) and fraction of absorbed radiation (fAPAR) were compared in crops relying only on biological N₂ fixation and available soil N (zero-N treatment) versus crops receiving N fertilizer (full-N treatment). Experiments were conducted in seven high-yield environments without water limitation, where crops received optimal management. In the zero-N treatment, biological N₂ fixation was not sufficient to meet the N demand of the growing crop from early in the season up to beginning of seed filling. As a result, crop LAI, growth, N accumulation, radiation-use efficiency and fAPAR were consistently higher in the full-N than in the zero-N treatment, leading to improved seed set and yield. Similarly, plants in the full-N treatment had heavier seeds with higher N concentration because of greater N mobilization from vegetative organs to seeds. Future yield gains in high-yield soybean production systems will require an increase in biological N₂ fixation, greater supply of N from soil or fertilizer, or alleviation of the trade-off between these two sources of N in order to meet the plant demand.     

The mechanism of resistance to paraquat is strongly temperature dependent in resistant Hordeum leporinum Link and H. glaucum Steud.

Paraquat-resistant biotypes of the closely-related weed species Hordeum leporinum Link and H. glaucum Steud. are highly resistant to paraquat when grown during the normal winter growing season. However, when grown and treated with paraquat in summer, these biotypes are markedly less resistant to paraquat. This reduced resistance to paraquat in summer is primarily a result of increased temperature following herbicide treatment. The mechanism governing this decrease in resistance at high temperature was examined in H. leporinum. No differences were observed between susceptible and resistant biotypes in the interaction of paraquat with isolated thylakoids when assayed at 15, 25, or 35 °C. About 98 and 65% of applied paraquat was absorbed through the leaf cuticle of both biotypes at 15 and 30 °C, respectively. Following application to leaves, more herbicide was translocated in a basipetal direction in the susceptible biotype compared to the resistant biotype at 15 °C. However, at 30 °C more paraquat was translocated in a basipetal direction in the resistant biotype. Photosynthetic activity of young leaf tissue from within the leaf sheath which had not been directly exposed to paraquat was measured 24 h after treatment of plants with para. quat. This activity was inhibited in the susceptible biotype when plants were maintained at either 15 °C or 30 °C after treatment. In contrast, photosynthetic activity of such tissue of the resistant biotype was not inhibited when plants were maintained at 15 °C after treatment, but was inhibited at 30 °C. The mechanism of resistance in this biotype of H. leporinum correlates with decreased translocation of paraquat and decreased penetration to the active site. This mechanism is temperature sensitive and breaks down at higher temperatures.We are grateful to Zeneca Agrochemicals, Jealotts Hill, Berkshire, UK who provided [¹⁴C]paraquat. E.P. was supported through a Ph.D. scholarship from the Australian International Development Assistance Bureau and C.P. was the recipient of an Australian Research Council Postdoctoral Fellowship.     

Leaf area index (LAI) map of a protected area within the caldera of Vico Lake (Italy)

ABSTRACT

Structural traits of the vegetation types and plantations occurring in a protected area within the caldera of Vico Lake (Italy) were analysed. There were significant correlations among structural traits, at leaf and stand level. Leaf area index (LAI) and specific leaf area (SLA) were the most significantly correlated traits. LAI rose according to stand plant density, tree size and SLA; the highest LAI value monitored in the Fagus sylvatica L. forest was justified by the largest tree size (28.9±2.8 m height and 53±15 cm diameter) and the highest SLA (212±23 cm² g^-1). The main traits determining the variations in leaf structure among species were analysed by Principal Component Analysis (PCA). The LAI values were used to realise a map allowing us to delimit high LAI values (4.1–5.0), corresponding to the F. sylvatica forest and to the F. sylvatica forest with the sporadic presence of Quercus cerris L. and Castanea sativa Miller, mean LAI values (classes 3.1–4.0) corresponding to Corylus avellana L. plantations and to the Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. vegetation type, low LAI values (classes 2.6–3.0) corresponding to Q. cerris forests and C. sativa plantations.     

Seasonal variability in the effect of elevated CO2 on ecosystem leaf area index in a scrub-oak ecosystem

We report effects of elevated atmospheric CO₂ concentration (C_a) on leaf area index (LAI) of a Florida scrub‐oak ecosystem, which had regenerated after fire for between three and five years in open‐top chambers (OTCs) and was yet to reach canopy closure. LAI was measured using four nondestructive methods, calibrated and tested in experiments performed in calibration plots near the OTCs. The four methods were: PAR transmission through the canopy, normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), hemispherical photography, and allometric relationships between plant stem diameter and plant leaf area. Calibration experiments showed: (1) Leaf area index could be accurately determined from either PAR transmission through the canopy or hemispherical photography. For LAI determined from PAR transmission through the canopy, ecosystem light extinction coefficient (k) varied with season and was best described as a function of PAR transmission through the canopy. (2) A negative exponential function described the relationship between NDVI and LAI; (3) Allometric relationships overestimated LAI. Throughout the two years of this study, LAI was always higher in elevated C_a, rising from, 20% during winter, to 55% during summer. This seasonality was driven by a more rapid development of leaf area during the spring and a relatively greater loss of leaf area during the winter, in elevated C_a. For this scrub‐oak ecosystem prior to canopy closure, increased leaf area was an indirect mechanism by which ecosystem C uptake and canopy N content were increased in elevated C_a. In addition, increased LAI decreased potential reductions in canopy transpiration from decreases in stomatal conductance in elevated C_a. These findings have important implications for biogeochemical cycles of C, N and H₂O in woody ecosystems regenerating from disturbance in elevated C_a.     

Altitudinal Change in LAI and Stand Leaf Biomass in Tropical Montane Forests: a Transect Study in Ecuador and a Pan-Tropical Meta-Analysis

Abstract Leaf area index (LAI) is a key parameter controlling plant productivity and biogeochemical fluxes between vegetation and the atmosphere. Tropical forests are thought to have comparably high LAIs; however, precise data are scarce and environmental controls of leaf area in tropical forests are not understood. We studied LAI and stand leaf biomass by optical and leaf mass-related approaches in five tropical montane forests along an elevational transect (1,050–3,060 m a.s.l.) in South Ecuador, and conducted a meta-analysis of LAI and leaf biomass data from tropical montane forests around the globe. Study aims were (1) to assess the applicability of indirect and direct approaches of LAI determination in tropical montane forests, (2) to analyze elevation effects on leaf area, leaf mass, SLA, and leaf lifespan, and (3) to assess the possible consequences of leaf area change with elevation for montane forest productivity. Indirect optical methods of LAI determination appeared to be less reliable in the complex canopies than direct leaf mass-related approaches based on litter trapping and a thorough analysis of leaf lifespan. LAI decreased by 40–60% between 1,000 and 3,000 m in the Ecuador transect and also in the pan-tropical data set. This decrease indicates that canopy carbon gain, that is, carbon source strength, decreases with elevation in tropical montane forests. Average SLA decreased from 88 to 61 cm² g⁻¹ whereas leaf lifespan increased from 16 to 25 mo between 1,050 and 3,060 m in the Ecuador transect. In contrast, stand leaf biomass was much less influenced by elevation. We conclude that elevation has a large influence not only on the leaf traits of trees but also on the LAI of tropical montane forests with soil N (nitrogen) supply presumably being the main controlling factor.     

Leaf dynamics of a deciduous forest canopy: no response to elevated CO<Subscript>2</Subscript>

Leaf area index (LAI) and its seasonal dynamics are key determinants of terrestrial productivity and, therefore, of the response of ecosystems to a rising atmospheric CO₂ concentration. Despite the central importance of LAI, there is very little evidence from which to assess how forest LAI will respond to increasing [CO₂]. We assessed LAI and related leaf indices of a closed-canopy deciduous forest for 4 years in 25-m-diameter plots that were exposed to ambient or elevated CO₂ (542 ppm) in a free-air CO₂ enrichment (FACE) experiment. LAI of this Liquidambar styraciflua (sweetgum) stand was about 6 and was relatively constant year-to-year, including the 2 years prior to the onset of CO₂ treatment. LAI throughout the 1999–2002 growing seasons was assessed through a combination of data on photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) transmittance, mass of litter collected in traps, and leaf mass per unit area (LMA). There was no effect of [CO₂] on any expression of leaf area, including peak LAI, average LAI, or leaf area duration. Canopy mass and LMA, however, were significantly increased by CO₂ enrichment. The hypothesized connection between light compensation point (LCP) and LAI was rejected because LCP was reduced by [CO₂] enrichment only in leaves under full sun, but not in shaded leaves. Data on PAR interception also permitted calculation of absorbed PAR (APAR) and light use efficiency (LUE), which are key parameters connecting satellite assessments of terrestrial productivity with ecosystem models of future productivity. There was no effect of [CO₂] on APAR, and the observed increase in net primary productivity in elevated [CO₂] was ascribed to an increase in LUE, which ranged from 1.4 to 2.4 g MJ^–1. The current evidence seems convincing that LAI of non-expanding forest stands will not be different in a future CO₂-enriched atmosphere and that increases in LUE and productivity in elevated [CO₂] are driven primarily by functional responses rather than by structural changes. Ecosystem or regional models that incorporate feedbacks on resource use through LAI should not assume that LAI will increase with CO₂ enrichment of the atmosphere.     

Leaf shape and its relationship with Leaf Area Index in a sugar beet (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Beta vulgaris</Emphasis> L.) cultivar

Heteroblasty of sugar beet cultivar Rizor was studied under field conditions for three growing seasons (2003, 2005, 2006) in a Randomized Complete Block (RCB) design experiment. Eleven leaf samplings, from early June till the end of October, were conducted each year and leaf shape parameters [leaf area (LA), centroid X or Y (CX or CY), length (L), width (W), average radial (AR), elongation (EL), shape factor (SF)] were determined by an image analysis system. During samplings, Leaf Area Index (LAI) was measured non-destructively. Significant year and sampling effects were found for all traits determined. With the progress of the growing season, leaves became smaller (LA, L, W, and AR were decreased) and rounded. The largest leaves were sampled in 2006 when LAI was highest. LA was strongly correlated with L and W with simple functions (y = 0.1933 x^2.2238, r ² = 0.96, p<0.001, and y = 28.693 x − 192.33, r ² = 0.97, p< 0.001, respectively), which could be used for non-destructive LA determination. Also, LAI was significantly related with LA and leaf dimensions (L, W) suggesting that an easy, non-destructive determination of LAI under field conditions is feasible for sugar beet cv. Rizor. An erratum to this article is available at .     

Forest growth along a rainfall gradient in Hawaii: Acacia koa stand structure,productivity, foliar nutrients,and water- and nutrient-use efficiencies

We tested whether variation in growth of native koa (Acacia koa) forest along a rainfall gradient was attributable to differences in leaf area index (LAI) or to differences in physiological performance per unit of leaf area. Koa stands were studied on western Kauai prior to Hurricane Iniki, and ranged from 500 to 1130 m elevation and from 850 to 1800 mm annual precipitation. Koa stands along the gradient had basal area ranging from 8 to 42 m²/ha, LAI ranging from 1.4 to 5.4, and wood increment ranging from 0.7 to 7.1 tonnes/ha/year. N, P, and K contents by weight of sun leaves (phyllodes) were negatively correlated with specific leaf mass (SLM, g m^-2) across sites; on a leaf area basis, N increased whereas P and K decreased with SLM. LAI, aboveground woody biomass increment, and production per unit leaf area (E) increased as phyllode ¹³C became more negative. The ¹³C data suggested that intrinsic water-use efficiency (ratio of assimilation to conductance) increased as water availability decreased. In five of the six sites, phyllode P contents increased as LAI increased, but biomass increment and E were not correlated with phyllode nutrient contents, suggesting that productivity was limited more by water than by nutrient availability. Because vapor pressure deficits increased with decreasing elevation, actual water-use efficiency (ratio of assimilation to transpiration) was lower at drier, low-elevation sites. There was a trade-off between intrinsic water-use efficiency and production per unit of canopy N or P across the gradient. In summary, koa responds to water limitation both by reducing stand LAI and by adjusting gas exchange, which results in increased intrinsic water-use efficiency but decreased E.     

祁连山中部优势灌木物种叶功能性状参数变化特征

植物叶功能性状是连接植物与外界环境的重要桥梁,是探索植物适应环境、进行全球气候变化研究的指标,也是生态水文模型重要的输入参数。通过高时间分辨率样品的采集结合图像处理技术,对祁连山中部优势物种金露梅(Dasiphora fruticosa)和鬼箭锦鸡儿(Caragana jubata)叶功能性状变化特征进行研究,结果表明：叶面积(LA)从生长初期到生长末期发生明显变化,且2020年6—7月初灌木叶面积变化最为明显;比叶面积(SLA)分别在76—157 cm²/g之间和120—217 cm²/g之间,金露梅SLA平均值(123 cm²/g)<鬼箭锦锦鸡儿SLA平均值(176 cm²/g);在生长初期金露梅的叶面积指数(LAI)明显大于鬼箭锦鸡儿,金露梅和鬼箭锦鸡儿的叶面积指数随时间的变化都符合三次函数;生物量与基径和高度的乘积呈显著性相关,最优回归模型均为幂函数;地上生物量与叶功能性状参数在不同阶段的模拟方程均不同,地上总生物量与叶生物量在生长期的最优选择模型分别呈S型函数和幂函数,金露梅的单株地...     

Ribosomal DNA repeat unit polymorphism in 25 Hordeum species

Summary Tandemly repeated DNA sequences containing structural genes encoding ribosomal RNA (rDNA) were investigated in 25 species of Hordeum using the wheat rDNA probe pTA71. The rDNA repeat unit lengths were shown to vary between 8.5 and 10.7 kb. The number of length classes (1–3) per accession generally corresponded to the number of nucleolar organizing regions (NORs). Intraspecific variation was found in H. parodii, H. spontaneum and H. leporinum, but not in H. bulbosum. Restriction analysis showed that the positions of EcoRI, SacI and certain BamHI cleavage sites in the rRNA structural genes were highly conserved, and that repeat unit length variation was generally attributable to the intergenic spacer region. Five rDNA BamHI restriction site maps corresponded to the following groups of species: Map A — H. murinum, H. glaucum, H. leporinum, H. bulbosum, H. marinum, H. geniculatum; Map B — H. leporinum; Map C — H. vulgare, H. spontaneum, H. agriocrithon; Map D — H. chilense, H. bogdanii; and Map E — remaining 14 Hordeum species. The repeat unit of H. bulbosum differed from all other species by the presence of a HindIII site. The closer relationship of H. bulbosum to H. leporinum, H. murinum and H. glaucum than to H. vulgare was indicated by their BamHI restriction maps.Contribution No. 1169, Plant Research Centre     

高寒草地不同坡向披针叶黄华蒸腾速率与叶性状的关系

植物蒸腾速率(Tr)与叶性状间的协同变异关系,对理解异质性生境下植物叶片形态构建模式及其生态适应性具有重要意义。利用ArcGIS建立研究区域的数字高程模型(DEM),并提取样地坡度数据,研究了祁连山高寒草地不同坡向披针叶黄华叶性状与Tr的关系。结果表明:随着坡向由北坡向东坡、西坡、南坡转变,草地群落的密度、高度和土壤含水量逐渐减小,披针叶黄华叶面积(LA)与Tr呈减小趋势,而叶厚度呈增大趋势;在南坡和北坡披针叶黄华的Tr与LA之间存在极显著正相关关系(P0.01),与叶厚度之间存在极显著负相关关系(P0.01),在东坡和西坡披针叶黄华的Tr与LA之间存在显著正相关关系(P0.05),与叶厚度之间存在显著负相关关系(P0.05)。生长在南坡的披针叶黄华选择了小而厚的叶片和低的Tr,生长在北坡的披针叶黄华选择了大而薄的叶片和高的Tr,体现了异质生境中植物通过叶片生物量分配机制实现资源有效利用的生存策略。     

Leaf area index and net primary productivity along subtropical to alpine gradients in the Tibetan Plateau

Aim Our aims were to quantify climatic and soil controls on net primary productivity (NPP) and leaf area index (LAI) along subtropical to alpine gradients where the vegetation remains relatively undisturbed, and investigate whether NPP and LAI converge towards threshold‐like logistic patterns associated with climatic and soil variables that would help us to verify and parameterize process models for predicting future ecosystem behaviour under global environmental change. Location Field data were collected from 22 sites along the Tibetan Alpine Vegetation Transects (TAVT) during 1999–2000. The TAVT included the altitudinal transect on the eastern slope of the Gongga Mountains in the Eastern Tibetan Plateau, with altitudes from 1900 m to 3700 m, and the longitudinal‐latitudinal transect in the Central Tibetan Plateau, of approximately 1000 km length and 40 km width. Methods LAI was measured as the product of foliage biomass multiplied by the ratio of specific leaf area. NPP in forests and shrub communities was estimated as the sum of increases in standing crops of live vegetation using recent stem growth rate and leaf lifespan. NPP in grasslands was estimated from the above‐ground maximum live biomass. We measured the soil organic carbon (C) and total and available nitrogen (N) contents and their pool sizes by conventional methods. Mean temperatures for the year, January and July and annual precipitation were estimated from available meteorological stations by interpolation or simulation. The threshold‐like logistic function was used to model the relationships of LAI and NPP with climatic and soil variables. Results Geographically, NPP and LAI both significantly decreased with increasing latitude (P < 0.02), but increased with increasing longitude (P < 0.01). Altitudinal trends in NPP and LAI showed different patterns. NPP generally decreased with increasing altitude in a linear relationship (r² = 0.73, P < 0.001), whereas LAI showed a negative quadratic relationship with altitude (r² = 0.58, P < 0.001). Temperature and precipitation, singly or in combination, explained 60–68% of the NPP variation with logistic relationships, while the soil organic C and total N variables explained only 21–46% of the variation with simple linear regressions of log‐transformed data. LAI showed significant logistic relationships with both climatic and soil variables, but the data from alpine spruce‐fir sites diverged greatly from the modelled patterns associated with temperature and precipitation. Soil organic C storage had the strongest correlation with LAI (r² = 0.68, P < 0.001). Main conclusions In response to climatic gradients along the TAVT, LAI and NPP across diverse vegetation types converged towards threshold‐like logistic patterns consistent with the general distribution patterns of live biomass both above‐ground and below‐ground found in our earlier studies. Our analysis further revealed that climatic factors strongly limited the NPP variations along the TAVT because the precipitation gradient characterized not only the vegetation distribution but also the soil N conditions of the natural ecosystems. LAI generally increased with increasing precipitation and was well correlated with soil organic C and total N variables. The interaction between LAI growth and soil N availability would appear to have important implications for ecosystem structure and function of alpine spruce‐fir forests. Convergence towards logistic patterns in dry matter production of plants in the TAVT suggests that alpine plant growth would increase in a nonlinear response to global warming.     

Drought effects on canopy properties and productivity in thinned and unthinned Turkey oak stands

ABSTRACT

Drought responses, leaf area index (LAI), leaf characteristics and light extinction coefficient (k) were analysed in thinned and unthinned Turkey oak (Quercus cerris L.) stands at two sites: Valsavignone, in the Apennines, with a mild climate, and Caselli, near the Tyrrhenian coast, with a longer and more accentuated dry period in the summer. Turkey oak showed a good adaptability to drought due to a series of modifications in leaf characteristics, canopy properties and biomass allocation such as leaf area reduction, increased leaf thickness, smaller number of leaves and, at stand level, lower LAI, leaf biomass and LWR values and higher light extinction coefficients. In spite of the better environmental conditions and the higher LAI values, productivity was lower in the wet site. The differences in Turkey oak canopy properties, light extinction coefficients, LAI and their relations with drought and productivity are discussed.     

Effects of leaf water evaporative 2H‐enrichment and biosynthetic fractionation on leaf wax n‐alkane δ2H values in C3 and C4 grasses

Leaf wax n‐alkane δ²H values carry important information about environmental and ecophysiological processes in plants. However, the physiological and biochemical drivers that shape leaf wax n‐alkane δ²H values are not completely understood. It is particularly unclear why n‐alkanes in grasses are typically ²H‐depleted compared with plants from other taxonomic groups such as dicotyledonous plants and why C3 grasses are ²H‐depleted compared with C4 grasses. To resolve these uncertainties, we quantified the effects of leaf water evaporative ²H‐enrichment and biosynthetic hydrogen isotope fractionation on n‐alkane δ²H values for a range of C3 and C4 grasses grown in climate‐controlled chambers. We found that only a fraction of leaf water evaporative ²H‐enrichment is imprinted on the leaf wax n‐alkane δ²H values in grasses. This is interesting, as previous studies have shown in dicotyledonous plants a nearly complete transfer of this ²H‐enrichment to the n‐alkane δ²H values. We thus infer that the typically observed ²H‐depletion of n‐alkanes in grasses (as opposed to dicots) is because only a fraction of the leaf water evaporative ²H‐enrichment is imprinted on the δ²H values. Our experiments also show that differences in n‐alkane δ²H values between C3 and C4 grasses are largely the result of systematic differences in biosynthetic fractionation between these two plant groups, which was on average ?198‰ and?159‰ for C3 and C4 grasses, respectively.     

利用凋落物法和林木因子模拟小兴安岭阔叶红松林叶面积指数

叶面积指数(LAI)是研究森林生态系统生理生态进程中关键的结构参数之一。目前,凋落物法是在非破坏性条件下能直接测定森林生态系统LAI的最有效的方法,然而将凋落叶按树种分类增加了该方法的实施难度。平均优势度模型、林分优势度模型和局域优势度模型基于凋落物法和林木因子(如胸高断面积basal area,BA;坐标)能精确地预测落叶阔叶林的LAI,而这些模型是否适用于针阔混交林仍未进行验证。以小兴安岭阔叶红松林(Pinus koraiensis)为研究对象,先利用凋落物法测定其LAI,依此为参考对3种模型预测LAI的有效性进行验证,并以红松、冷杉(Abies nephrolepis)、紫椴(Tilia amurensis)、五角槭(Acer mono)、枫桦(Betula costata)和裂叶榆(Ulmus laciniata)为例,探讨了基于凋落物法测定的LAI与BA的相关关系。结果表明:平均优势度模型不适于预测针阔混交林的LAI;林分优势度模型预测效果较好,精度达86%;局域优势度模型预测效果最优,精度高于90%。然而,为准确测定阔叶红松林的LAI,应最少选择测定8个主要树种的比叶面积。基于凋落物法测定的6个树种的LAI与其BA均显著相关(P0.01),最小R2为0.67。研究结果可为快速、准确地测定针阔混交林的LAI提供依据,为非破坏性条件下建立树种的LAI与其BA的相关关系提供参考。     

Photosynthesis and water-relation traits of the summer annual C4 grasses, Eleusine indica and Digitaria adscendens, with contrasting trampling tolerance

Two summer annual C₄ grasses with different trampling susceptibilities were grown as potted plants, and diurnal leaf gas exchange and leaf water potential in each grass were compared. The maximum net photosynthetic rate, leaf conductance and transpiration rate were higher in the trampling-tolerant Eleusine indica (L.) Gaertn. than in trampling sensitive Digitaria adscendens (H. B. K.) Henr. Leaf water potential was much lower in E. indica than in D. adscendens. There were no differences in soil-to-leaf hydraulic conductance and leaf osmotic potential at full turgor as obtained by pressure–volume analysis. However, the bulk modulus of elasticity in cell walls was higher in E. indica leaves than in D. adscendens leaves. This shows that the leaves of E. indica are less elastic. Therefore, the rigid cell walls of E. indica leaves reduced leaf water potential rapidly by decreasing the leaf water content, supporting a high transpiration rate with high leaf conductance. In trampled habitats, such lowering of leaf water potential in E. indica might play a role in water absorption from the compacted soil. In contrast, the ability of D. adscendens to colonize dry habitats such as coastal sand dunes appears to be due to its lower transpiration rate and its higher leaf water potential which is not strongly affected by decreasing leaf water content.     

基于高光谱遥感的小麦叶干重和叶面积指数监测

生物量和叶面积指数(LAI)是描述作物长势的重要参数, 叶干重和LAI的实时动态监测对小麦(Triticum aestivum)生长诊断和管理调控具有重要意义。为分析多种高光谱参数估算小麦叶干重和LAI的效果, 建立小麦叶干重和LAI的定量监测模型, 该研究连续3年采用不同小麦品种进行不同施氮水平的大田试验, 于小麦不同生育期采集田间冠层高光谱数据并测定叶片叶干重和LAI。试验结果显示, 小麦叶干重和LAI随施氮水平的提高而增加, 随生育进程呈单峰动态变化模式。小麦叶干重和LAI与光谱反射率间相关性较好的区域主要位于红光波段(590~710 nm, r<-0.60)和近红外波段(745~1 130 nm, r>0.69)。对于不同试验条件下的叶干重和LAI, 可以使用统一的光谱参数进行定量反演, 其中基于RVI (810, 560)、FD755、GM1、SARVI (MSS)和TC3等光谱参数的方程拟合效果较好。经不同年际独立试验数据的检验表明, 以参数RVI (810, 560)、GM1、SARVI (MSS)、PSSRb、(R_750-800/R_695-740) -1、VOG2和MSR705为变量建立的叶干重和LAI监测模型均给出较好的检验结果。因此, 利用关键特征光谱参数可以有效地评价小麦叶片生长状况, 尤其是光谱参数RVI (810, 560)、GM1和SARVI (MSS)可以对不同条件下小麦叶干重和LAI进行准确可靠的监测。     

Test of Accuracy of LAI Estimation by LAI-2000 under Artificially Changed Leaf to Wood Area Proportions

The accuracy of LAI-2000 Plant Canopy Analyzer for leaf (LAI) and plant (PAI) area indexes measurements was tested in 20-year-old Norway spruce stand using the reduction of canopy biomass. Needle and branch areas were reduced progressively upward every one meter. Values of effective leaf area index (LAI_e), as an uncorrected product of LAI-2000, were compared with directly estimated LAI and PAI values after each reduction step. LAI-2000 underestimates PAI and LAI values according to LAI-2000 rings readings, and varied proportions between leaf and wood areas. The values of LAI_c have been increased with decreasing of the view angle of the relevant LAI-2000 rings. Therefore, the underestimation of LAI becomes smaller when the readings near the horizon are masked. More accurate results, for projected LAI (LAI_p) calculation, are produced by LAI-2000 when some dense grids of measurement points and the most vertical ring readings (0 –13 °) are used. Correction factor 1.6 is possible to use for unreduced canopy hemi-surface LAI estimation, when the last rings (i.e. 5^th and 4^th rings, 47 –74 °) are excluded. Correction factor of 1.25 can be used to compute LAI_p if the angle readings under 43 °are also masked.     

Leaf litterfall,leaf area index,and radiation transmittance in cypress wetlands and slash pine plantations in north-central Florida

The seasonal dynamics of leaf litterfall and leaf area index (LAI, all-sided basis), light penetration and the vertical distribution of surface area index, and the feasibility of estimating LAI from radiation transmittance were studied from April 1993 to March 1994 in the canopies of three cypress (Taxodium ascendens) wetlands and their surrounding slash pine (Pinus elliottii) uplands in Florida flatwoods. Annual leaf litterfall ranged from 324 to 359 g m^–2 in the wetlands, which was very close to the average for 11 sites throughout Florida of 340±26 g m^–2. The seasonal pattern of the normalized LAI obtained for the dominant tree species in the ecosystems could be used to construct the seasonal dynamics of LAI at the ecosystem scale. The vertical distribution of surface area index in the wetlands was significantly different from that in the surrounding pine uplands. The maximum LAI of cypress wetlands in this area was about 8 m² m^–2, which was higher than the maximum of slash pine plantations of 6 m² m^–2. Cypress leaves were strongly erectophile in space. Results showed that the LAI-2000 canopy analyzer could generally be used to estimate forest LAI, whether the forest canopy was closed or not, if an overall clumping index of 2.00 was applied. However, as LAI decreased, the relative error contained in the radiation-based LAI estimates increased. This indicated that foliage clumping at the stand scale was more important than that at the tree or branch scale.