Tracking leaf area index and coefficient of light extinction over the harvesting cycle of black wattle

• Published in: Journal of forestry research Vol. 27; no. 6; pp. 1211 - 1217
• Main Authors: Behling, Alexandre, Sanquetta, Carlos Roberto, Corte, Ana Paula Dalla, Péllico Netto, Sylvio, Rodrigues, Aurélio Lourenço, Caron, Bráulio Otomar, Simon, Augusto Arlindo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01.12.2016; Springer; Springer Nature B.V; Federal University of Paraná, 900, Lothario Meissner Av,Curitiba, Paraná 80210-170, Brazil%Federal University of Santa Maria, 1000 Roraima Av,Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil%TANAC SA, 199 Torbjorn Weibull St, Montenegro,Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
• Subjects: Biomedical and Life Sciences; Forestry; Harvesting; Leaf area; Leaf area index; Life Sciences; Mathematical analysis; Photosynthesis; Plantations; Planting; Radiation; Review Article; Solar radiation; Wattle; Light attenuation; Biomass; Leaf area; Tree canopy; Photosynthetic radiation intercepted
• ISSN: 1007-662X; 1993-0607
• DOI: 10.1007/s11676-016-0279-1

The amount of photosynthetic radiation intercepted by a crop is a function of the incident solar radiation on the plants, the leaf area index ( L AI ), and the light extinction coefficient ( k ). We quantified L AI and k in stands of black wattle ( Acacia mearnsii De Wild.) over a 7-year growth cycle at two locations in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Our study was conducted in commercial stands in agroecological regions with high densities of black wattle plantations. L AI was calculated as the ratio between the leaf area of a tree and its planting space, and k was derived from Beer’s law. L AI depends on the planting site and stand age. Between the two sites, the L AI was similar over time, the amount of variation differed. Values of k depended only on stand age, with the highest average observed for stands up to 5 years old. The trend of k during the plantation cycle was inversely proportional to L AI and was correlated with L AI , leaf area, leaf dry mass, canopy volume, height, branches dry mass, total dry mass, and crown diameter.