Modelling Canopy Production. I. Optimal Distribution of Photosynthetic Resources

1995 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 593 ◽  
Author(s):  
PJ Sands

On the basis of detailed numerical simulations, Field (1983. Oecologia 56, 341-347) stated that total canopy photosynthesis will be a maximum for a fixed total canopy leaf nitrogen provided the derivative δA/δN, where A is photosynthetic rate and N is leaf nitrogen concentration, has the same value throughout the canopy. This paper uses the calculus of variations to formally prove Field's assertion. It shows that if the single-leaf light response is a first-degree homogeneous function of both light-saturated photosynthetic rate Amax and intensity I of photosynthetically active radiation and if Amax is linearly related to N, then the optimal distribution of leaf nitrogen is linearly related to the decline in I with canopy depth, and Amax is proportional to this decline. The nature of photosynthetic gains due to optimisation of canopy nitrogen distribution is illustrated numerically for a simple model canopy. It is found that, for canopies with fixed mean leaf nitrogen, canopy photosynthesis is approximately proportional to canopy leaf area index (LAI), and the gain due to canopy optimisation compared with a uniform canopy is small for shallow canopies but pronounced for deep canopies. It is also found that, for canopies with fixed total leaf nitrogen, there is a canopy LAI which maximises canopy photosynthesis, and that this LAI and the corresponding canopy photosynthesis are approximately proportional to total canopy nitrogen.

1995 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 603 ◽  
Author(s):  
PJ Sands

This paper presents a simple algorithm for calculating daily canopy photosynthesis given parameters of the single-leaf light response, the canopy extinction coefficient, canopy leaf area index, daylength, daily solar irradiance and daily maximum and minimum temperatures. Analytical expressions are derived for total daily production by a canopy of leaves whose light response is either a rectangular hyperbola or a Blackman response. An expression which gives an excellent approximation to canopy photosynthesis for an arbitrary hyperbolic light response is then derived. These expressions assume photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) within the canopy follows Beer's law, light-saturated photosynthetic rate at any point in the canopy is proportional to the ratio of local PAR to full-sun PAR, diurnal variation of PAR is sinusoidal, and parameters of the single-leaf photosynthetic light response do not vary diurnally. It is shown how these expressions can be used to accommodate diurnal temperature variation of photosynthesis in a simple manner. The accuracy of the approximation to the basic integral of leaf photosynthesis over the canopy and over time is illustrated by applying the algorithm to compute the seasonal variation of daily canopy photosynthesis and comparing these data with corresponding values obtained by numerical integration.


2013 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 01-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
H Gunasekera ◽  
W De Costa ◽  
A Nugawela

The main objective of this study wasto investigate the relationship between canopy photosynthetic capacityand light response parametersof tapped and untapped trees of twoHeveabrasiliensis genotypes, i.e. RRISL 211 and RRIC 121. Moreover, attempts have been made to develop correlations between canopy photosynthesis and light response parameters Heveawith reference to exploitation. The canopy photosynthetic rates measured under optimal environmental conditions clearly showed clonal differences in CO2 assimilation rates. The photosynthetic capacities of leaves from all strata of RRISL 211 were greater than the corresponding strata values in RRIC 121. A greater canopy photosynthetic rate was observed in clone RRISL 211 despite its leaf area index being 2% lower than in RRIC 121. This could be because of the greater photosynthetic capacity of RRISL 211, as indicated by the greater Amax values.In each clone, Amax of the tapped trees was greater than the Amax of untapped trees, and this difference was greater in RRISL 211 than RRIC 121. Another reason for the greater canopy photosynthesis of clone RRISL 211 was the presence of a higher percentage of leaf area in the top canopy layer as compared to clone RRIC 121. Even though, the light saturation point, LSP (i.e. the light intensity at which photosynthetic rate reaches maximum), did not differ significantly between different canopy layers within a clone for both clones, RRIC 121 had greater LSP for corresponding layers than RRISL 211. Moreover, it was evident that, due to the more open canopy architecture of clone RRIC 121, LSP of its middle canopy layer was very close to LSP of the upper canopy layer.In both clones QE of all canopy layers did not show a consistent variation between tapped and untapped treatments The Rd rates of corresponding canopy layers were always slightly greater in RRISL 211 than in RRIC 121. In both clones there was a gradual reduction in Rd rates when moving from upper through middle to bottom layers of the canopy. However, detailed analysis of Rd rates in the different canopy layers between tapped and untapped treatments showed clonal differences. Nevertheless, in both clones Rd of all canopy layers did not show a consistent variation pattern between tapped and untapped treatments. The overall results of both clones clearly showed that tapped trees have a greater photosynthetic capacity as compared to untapped trees because tapping exerts a stimulatory effect on photosynthesis. This trend was more evident in clone RRISL 211.


1993 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 69 ◽  
Author(s):  
JR Evans

Nitrogen redistribution between and within leaves was examined in a plot of lucerne (Medicago sativa L. cv. Aurora) in relation to potential canopy photosynthesis. The canopy was sampled during regrowth after cutting and just prior to flowering. As leaves were progressively shaded by the newly produced leaves, nitrogen content fell and photosynthetic acclimation occurred. The rate of acclimation in the canopy was the same as occurred following a step change to 23 or 6% sunlight. The profile of leaf nitrogen content was stable with respect to leaf area index and independent of time of sampling. Optimal profiles of nitrogen distribution between leaves, photosynthetic rate per unit chlorophyll and nitrogen partitioning within leaves were calculated from the relationships between photosynthesis and nitrogen in conjunction with the light environment of the preceding 3 days. The optimal nitrogen content of the leaves should vary in proportion to the relative daily irradiance at each leaf. The observed distribution achieved 88% of the potential daily photosynthesis, while a uniform nitrogen distribution yielded only 80%. Photosynthetic acclimation and nitrogen partitioning within each leaf both responded to daily irradiance similarly to the calculated optimum except at the two extremes. At the top of the canopy, photosynthetic rate per unit of chlorophyll did not increase as much as the calculated optimum, while at the base of the canopy, nitrogen partitioning failed to fall as much as the calculated optimum. This may reflect the constraints on the flexibility of the photosynthetic system. Nitrogen redistribution between leaves made a dramatic contribution to increasing the potential photosynthesis by the canopy. Although acclimation to low irradiance reduced the photosynthetic capacity per unit nitrogen by 12%, the considerable reorganisation of proteins within the thylakoids increased potential daily photosynthesis by 20% over that which would have been gained by a 'sun' leaf. However, in terms of canopy photosynthesis, which is dominated by leaves intercepting most of the light, acclimation contributed only a few per cent to the potential daily canopy photosynthesis.


1996 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 161 ◽  
Author(s):  
TL Setter ◽  
EA Conocono ◽  
JA Egdane

Reduced panicle height in a rice crop canopy may have beneficial effects of increasing yield potential through reduced shading of leaves leading to greater canopy photosynthesis. Effects of different panicle height in the canopy were evaluated in glasshouse and field experiments using isogenic lines with elongated upper internodes (EUI lines) from two cultivars. Isogenic lines of IR36 and IR50 with elongated upper internodes (IR36EUI and IR50EUI) had panicle heights at the top of the canopy of 96-100% of canopy height, while lines with low panicle heights had panicles which were 74 and 82% of canopy height respectively. Lines with low panicle height had about 10% more of the total leaf area index (LAI) above panicles and this resulted in up to 35% greater light interception by leaves above panicles relative to high panicle height plants. At 5 days before flowering IR36 and IR36EUI had equal canopy photosynthesis, while at flowering, lines had equal shoot nitrogen percentage and LAI. At maturity spikelets per mainstem were not significantly different. At 0, 7, 14 and 21 days after flowering (DAF), IR36, with low panicle height, had 10-30% greater canopy photosynthesis than IR36EUI; greater canopy photosynthesis was observed for IR50 relative to IR50EUI. These beneficial effects of low panicle height on canopy photosynthesis occurred even though the maximum single leaf photosynthesis and respiration rates were similar in both isogenic lines during grain filling. In the field and in a glasshouse experiment where plants were arranged into canopies, IR36, with low panicle heights had 15-40% greater yields than the isogenic line IR36EUI with high panicle heights; greater yields also occurred for IR50 than IR50EUI.


1994 ◽  
Vol 45 (3) ◽  
pp. 565 ◽  
Author(s):  
GC Wright ◽  
GL Hammer

The allocation pattern of leaf nitrogen throughout a crop canopy can theoretically affect crop photosynthetic performance and radiation use efficiency (RUE). No information is available on the existence of leaf nitrogen gradients in peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) canopies, nor on how these gradients might impact on RUE. Peanut crops (cv. Tifton-8) were grown in warm and cool environments, and the canopy profiles of leaf area index, light interception, specific leaf weight (SLW), leaf nitrogen concentration (LNC) and specific leaf nitrogen (SLN) were examined at 73 and 112 days after planting. Crop RUE was also measured during this period. There was a marked decline in SLN from the top to the base of the canopy in both environments. The gradient in SLN occurred due to changes in SLW and LNC in the warm environment, but only due to changes in SLW in the cool environment. The gradient appeared to be largely controlled by the light environment within the canopy, as evidenced by the commonality (across environments) of the relationship between SLN and cumulative light interception throughout the canopy. Radiation use efficiency was 33% higher in the crop grown in the warm compared to the cool environment, suggesting that cool temperatures can limit RUE in peanut. For the crop at the warm site, RUE was 32% higher than the theoretical RUE assuming a uniform SLN distribution in the canopy. It is suggested that the existence of non-uniform SLN distribution in the canopy may allow enhanced RUE compared to canopies with uniform SLN distribution.


2018 ◽  
Vol 45 (3) ◽  
pp. 362 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alex Wu ◽  
Al Doherty ◽  
Graham D. Farquhar ◽  
Graeme L. Hammer

Photosynthetic manipulation is seen as a promising avenue for advancing field crop productivity. However, progress is constrained by the lack of connection between leaf-level photosynthetic manipulation and crop performance. Here we report on the development of a model of diurnal canopy photosynthesis for well watered conditions by using biochemical models of C3 and C4 photosynthesis upscaled to the canopy level using the simple and robust sun–shade leaves representation of the canopy. The canopy model was integrated over the time course of the day for diurnal canopy photosynthesis simulation. Rationality analysis of the model showed that it simulated the expected responses in diurnal canopy photosynthesis and daily biomass accumulation to key environmental factors (i.e. radiation, temperature and CO2), canopy attributes (e.g. leaf area index and leaf angle) and canopy nitrogen status (i.e. specific leaf nitrogen and its profile through the canopy). This Diurnal Canopy Photosynthesis Simulator (DCaPS) was developed into a web-based application to enhance usability of the model. Applications of the DCaPS package for assessing likely canopy-level consequences of changes in photosynthetic properties and its implications for connecting photosynthesis with crop growth and development modelling are discussed.


1996 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 103 ◽  
Author(s):  
PJ Sands

A previously published model which predicts daily canopy photosynthesis from standard daily meteorological data and parameters of the single-leaf photosynthetic light-response curve is extended to predict annual canopy photosynthesis. The model is based on biologically plausible assumptions about canopy structure and assumes the single-leaf light response is a non-rectangular hyperbola of arbitrary shape. It uses simple algorithms for taking diurnal variation of temperature, and seasonal temperature acclimation of photosynthesis, into account. The model provides theoretical support for the observation that production by a canopy is proportional to irradiance intercepted or absorbed by the canopy. The model is used to explore the sensitivity of annual photosynthesis to parameters of the single-leaf light response. It is shown how the sensitivity of annual canopy photosynthesis to various factors can be determined from the sensitivity of parameters of the light response to the same factors. In particular, annual photosynthesis is shown to be sensitive to the effects of nutrition and temperature on light-saturated photosynthetic rate, and to seasonal temperature acclimation of photosynthesis. It is important that the variation with temperature, nutrition and season of parameters of the single-leaf light-response function be determined.


2014 ◽  
Vol 38 (6) ◽  
pp. 640-652 ◽  
Author(s):  
YAN Shuang ◽  
◽  
ZHANG Li ◽  
JING Yuan-Shu ◽  
HE Hong-Lin ◽  
...  

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document