Plant Geometrical Structure and Leaf Irradiance in Cotton: I. Measurement Methodology

Abstract

           Plant geometrical structure is an important factor influencing on variability of micro-environment of plant community. Amount of leaf area, spatial distribution of leaf area, and leaf orientation are generally studied as the description of plant geometry. Errors of this description had been proven to give under estimation from simple light interception model in cotton. Thus, more accurate plant geometrical descriptions are needed for cotton.

            There are several methods for characterizing plant structure. The new method presented which had been used in cotton is the three dimensional electromagnetic digitizing. This method improves plant structure measurement in the field with high accuracy. The information from digitizing by using DIPLAMI data acquisition software developed by I.N.R.A. (National Institute of Agricultural Research) in France can be widely used either for plant geometrical structure analysis or light interception estimation.

             Leaf irradiance measurement has also been developed. Using light and low-cost sensors has shown to be reliable for leaf irradiance measurement and allows us to get more information of light distribution in the cotton canopy. The applications of digitizing and light sensor are also discussed.