scholarly journals Functional Crown Architecture of Five Temperate Broadleaf Tree Species: Vertical Gradients in Leaf Morphology, Leaf Angle, and Leaf Area Density

Forests ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 265 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marc Hagemeier ◽  
Christoph Leuschner
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Distribution ◽  
Leaf Area ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Leaf Morphology ◽  
Leaf Size ◽  
Leaf Angle ◽  
Area Density ◽  
Tree Crowns ◽  
Leaf Area Density ◽  
Total Leaf

The morphology, inclination, and spatial distribution of leaves in different parts of tree crowns are important determinants of the radiation, momentum, and gas exchange between the canopy and the atmosphere. However, it is not well known how these foliage-related traits vary among species differing in successional status. We measured leaf size, leaf mass area (LMA), leaf inclination (angle to the horizontal), leaf area density (LAD), total leaf area (leaf area index, LAI), and leaf area distribution across the crown in adult trees of five common, early to late-successional tree species (Betula pendula Roth, Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl., Carpinus betulus L., Tilia cordata Mill., and Fagus sylvatica L.) using different canopy access techniques and the harvest of foliated trees (29 trees in total). Leaf size increased continuously with crown depth in B. pendula and T. cordata but peaked at mid-crown in Q. petraea, C. betulus, and F. sylvatica to decrease toward the shade crown. By contrast, LMA and leaf angle decreased continuously with crown depth in all species, but the pattern of vertical change varied. The mid/late- and late-successional species had higher LAI, lower shade-leaf LMA, lower leaf angles (shade and sun crown), and higher LAD in the uppermost sun crown in comparison to early successional B. pendula. We assume that the most peripheral sun leaf layer is partly acting as a shield against excess radiation, with foliage properties depending on the structure of the shade crown. We conclude that the vertical change in leaf morphology, inclination, and spatial distribution in tree crowns is highly species specific, with partial dependence on the species’ position in succession.

scholarly journals Variation in leaf area density drives the rainfall storage capacity of individual urban tree species

2018 ◽  
Vol 32 (25) ◽  
pp. 3729-3740 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mariana D. Baptista ◽  
Stephen J. Livesley ◽  
Ebadat G. Parmehr ◽  
Melissa Neave ◽  
Marco Amati
Keyword(s):  
Leaf Area ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Storage Capacity ◽  
Area Density ◽  
Urban Tree ◽  
Leaf Area Density

scholarly journals Estimating Changes in Leaf Area, Leaf Area Density, and Vertical Leaf Area Profile for Mango, Avocado, and Macadamia Tree Crowns Using Terrestrial Laser Scanning

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 1750 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dan Wu ◽  
Stuart Phinn ◽  
Kasper Johansen ◽  
Andrew Robson ◽  
Jasmine Muir ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Leaf Area ◽  
Laser Scanning ◽  
Terrestrial Laser Scanning ◽  
Individual Tree ◽  
Healthy Tree ◽  
Area Density ◽  
Tree Crowns ◽  
Vertical Leaf ◽  
Leaf Area Density ◽  
Mango Tree

Vegetation metrics, such as leaf area (LA), leaf area density (LAD), and vertical leaf area profile, are essential measures of tree-scale biophysical processes associated with photosynthetic capacity, and canopy geometry. However, there are limited published investigations of their use for horticultural tree crops. This study evaluated the ability of light detection and ranging (LiDAR) for measuring LA, LAD, and vertical leaf area profile across two mango, macadamia and avocado trees using discrete return data from a RIEGL VZ-400 Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS) system. These data were collected multiple times for individual trees to align with key growth stages, essential management practices, and following a severe storm. The first return of each laser pulse was extracted for each individual tree and classified as foliage or wood based on TLS point cloud geometry. LAD at a side length of 25 cm voxels, LA at the canopy level and vertical leaf area profile were calculated to analyse tree crown changes. These changes included: (1) pre-pruning vs. post-pruning for mango trees; (2) pre-pruning vs. post-pruning for macadamia trees; (3) pre-storm vs. post-storm for macadamia trees; and (4) tree leaf growth over a year for two young avocado trees. Decreases of 34.13 m2 and 8.34 m2 in LA of mango tree crowns occurred due to pruning. Pruning for the high vigour mango tree was mostly identified between 1.25 m and 3 m. Decreases of 38.03 m2 and 16.91 m2 in LA of a healthy and unhealthy macadamia tree occurred due to pruning. After flowering and spring flush of the same macadamia trees, storm effects caused a 9.65 m2 decrease in LA for the unhealthy tree, while an increase of 34.19 m2 occurred for the healthy tree. The tree height increased from 11.13 m to 11.66 m, and leaf loss was mainly observed between 1.5 m and 4.5 m for the unhealthy macadamia tree. Annual increases in LA of 82.59 m2 and 59.97 m2 were observed for two three-year-old avocado trees. Our results show that TLS is a useful tool to quantify changes in the LA, LAD, and vertical leaf area profiles of horticultural trees over time, which can be used as a general indicator of tree health, as well as assist growers with improved pruning, irrigation, and fertilisation application decisions.

scholarly journals STUDY ON INDIRECT ESTIMATING LEAF AREA DENSITY

2006 ◽  
Vol 71 (603) ◽  
pp. 111-117
Author(s):  
Ai KADAIRA ◽  
Harunori YOSHIDA ◽  
Daisuke MURAKAMI ◽  
Mamiko ITOU
Keyword(s):  
Leaf Area ◽  
Area Density ◽  
Leaf Area Density

Effect of sward structure of two tropical grasses with contrasting canopies on light distribution, net photosynthesis and size of bite harvested by grazing cattle

1982 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 187 ◽  
Author(s):  
MM Ludlow ◽  
TH Stobbs ◽  
R Davos ◽  
DA Charles-Edwards
Keyword(s):  
Leaf Area ◽  
Growth Regulators ◽  
Light Distribution ◽  
Trimethylammonium Chloride ◽  
Tropical Pastures ◽  
Area Density ◽  
Tropical Grasses ◽  
Bite Size ◽  
Leaf Area Density ◽  
Grazing Cattle

Our aim was to determine whether increasing the sward density of tropical pastures, for the purpose of enhancing the size of bite harvested by grazing cattle, would reduce yield by affecting light distribution andcanopy photosynthesis. The growth regulators (2-chloroethy1)trimethylammonium chloride (CCC) and gibberillic acid (GA) were used to alter the leaf area density of the tussock-forming grass Setavia sphacelata and of the sward-forming grass Digitaria decumbens. GA increased plant height, the length of stem internodes, and the size of bite harvested by cattle. On the other hand, CCC decreased canopy height, and increased leaf area density and bite size. The variation of leaf area density, investigated experimentally by using growth regulators (5-25 m-1) and theoretically by simulation modelling (5-40 m-1), had no significant effect on either leaf or canopy photosynthetic characteristics. Hence we believe that there would be a negligible reduction in yield of these tropical grasses if their leaf area densities were increased up to a value of 40 m-1, which exceeds those of temperate pastures. Such increases in leaf area density may increase animal production from tropical pastures where bite size limits daily intake of forage. The agricultural implications of the findings are discussed.

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