Estimating the total leaf area of the green dwarf coconut tree (Cocos nucifera L.)

• Main Authors: Sousa Elias Fernandes de, Araújo Marilaine Campanati, Posse Robson Prucoli, Detmann Edenio, Bernardo Salassier, Berbert Pedro Amorim, Santos Paulo Albernaz dos
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Universidade de São Paulo 2005-01-01
• Series: Scientia Agricola
• Subjects: canopy structure; mathematic model; estimating model
• Online Access: http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0103-90162005000600014
• ISSN: 0103-9016; 1678-992X

Leaf area has significant effect on tree transpiration, and its measurement is important to many study areas. This work aimed at developing a non-destructive, practical, and empirical method to estimate the total leaf area of green dwarf coconut palms (Cocos nucifera L.) in plantations located at the northern region of Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil. A mathematical model was developed to estimate total leaf area values (TLA) as function of the average lengths of the last three leaf raquis (LR3), and of the number of leaves in the canopy (NL). The model has satisfactory degree of accuracy for agricultural engineering purposes.