HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Reddy, V. R. Articles by Acock, M. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Reddy, V. R. Articles by Acock, M. Agricola Articles by Reddy, V. R. Articles by Acock, M.

Seasonal Leaf Area-Leaf Weight Relationships in the Cotton Canopy

Dep. of Agric. Eng., Clemson Univ., Clemson, SC 29631
USDA-ARS Systems Res. Lab., Natural Resources Inst., Beltsville, MD 20705
USDA-ARS Crop Simulation Res. Unit, Crop Sci. Res. Lab., Mississippi State, MS 39762
Dep. of Horticulture, Mississippi Coop. Ext. Serv., Mississippi State, MS 39762

^* Corresponding author.

Specific leaf area (SLA), the ratio of leaf area to leaf dry weight, is used in crop simulation models to estimate total leaf area or dry weight. This experiment was designed to study changes in SLA in various parts of a cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) canopy throughout the growing season. The main stem of the cotton plant was divided into five-node segments. Leaf area and leaf dry weight were measured for each segment throughout the growing season. The mean seasonal SLAs for the segments from the bottom to the top of the canopy were 26.2, 25.6, 20.9, 19.4, and 18.1 m² kg^–1. Except for the uppermost segment, SLA increased from 43 to 90 d after emergence (DAE) and declined from 100 DAE. The decline coincided with boll maturation but also with canopy defoliation. It was possible to account for 93% of the variation in SLA for all segments by plotting SLA against light flux density within the cotton canopy. Variations in SLA with time, growth stage, and leaf maturity were small to insignificant when variation due to light flux density was removed. Sampling for SLA should include leaves throughout the crop canopy. Modelers who use SLA to estimate total leaf area or dry weight should determine the relationship between SLA and light flux density for their particular crop.

Received for publication October 2, 1986.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				J. Ko, S. J. Maas, R. J. Lascano, and D. Wanjura Modification of the GRAMI Model for Cotton Agron. J., September 19, 2005; 97(5): 1374 - 1379. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]