Do changes in the azimuthal distribution of maize leaves over time affect canopy light absorption?

摘要

When modelling the architecture and light regime of maize canopies it is usually assumed that leaf azimuths are distributed uniformly. Once azimuthal re-orientation of maize leaves during the vegetative phase had been demonstrated, the weight of this hypothesis was tested on the light absorbed daily by the canopy. The three-dimensional geometry of maize canopies with various plant densities and at different developmental stages was modelled using plant digitizing under field conditions. Radiative transfer was modelled using a volume-based approach within actual and hypothetical canopies, obtained by simply rearranging leaf azimuths. Simulations indicated that changes to horizontal heterogeneity have little effect on daily light absorption efficiency. It is concluded that changes in leaf azimuths do not have to be taken into account in crop-functioning models.