Author : Thomas Russell Sinclair
Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 246 pages
Book Rating : 4.E/5 ( download)
Book Synopsis An Evaluation of Leaf Angle Effect on Maize Photosynthesis and Productivity by : Thomas Russell Sinclair
Download or read book An Evaluation of Leaf Angle Effect on Maize Photosynthesis and Productivity written by Thomas Russell Sinclair and published by . This book was released on 1971 with total page 246 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This work was undertaken to study further the hypothesis thata corn crop photosynthetic activity could be increaded by developing plants with more erect leaves. Research was done at both the experimental and theoretical levels. Experimental work was undertaken to verify the theoretical assumptions used to predict the increased photosynthesis for an erect-leaf crop. In addition, experimental data provide a direct comparison of the photosynthetic capacity of a normal-leaf and erect-leaf corn crop. The theoretical studies were undertaken in conjunction with the development of a simulation model to predict the microclimate of a corn field. The research was executed in three phases. The first phase was a study of solar energy penetration in corn canopies. The basis for the simulations of De with and Duncan were the theoretical predictions of light distribution in a leaf canopy. Field measurement of photosynthetically active radiation penetration in several types of corn canopies were made and compared with predicted values (Chapter I). In addition, the relative irradiances of red and far-red radiation above and within the corn canopies were measured (Chapter II). The two wavelength bans were studied because the red band is highly absorbed by leaves and the far-red band is poorly absorbed and they allowed further tests of the predicted distribution of scattered radiation in the crop canopies. Also these wavelength bans are known to affect the phytochrome pigment of plants.