Estimation of leaf area index of banana orchards using the method LAI-LUX
Keywords:
luximeter, leaf area index, Musa spp., blue light transmittanceAbstract
This paper aimed to compare leaf area index (LAI) from two genotypes banana orchards (Grand Naine and Tropical) estimated by biometric measurements with the LAI-LUX method. This method is based on measurements of radiation transmittance using a digital luximeter. There were under and overestimation of LAI using the LAI-LUX method. The measurements taken on orchards aged over 8 months have shown the mean relative error of -4.35% related to cultivar Tropical and +2.77% for the Grand Naine. The overall results revealed the underestimation of results by 3.85% when the ‘Grand Naine’ banana cultivar was analyzed and overestimation of 6.3% in the case of cultivar ‘Tropical’. These results have shown the potential to the practical use the method LAI-LUX to estimate LAI in banana orchards but are also necessary to improve the studies in new orchards (up to 8 months) for better understanding the main sources of error.