SPECIFIC LEAF AREA AS A FUNCTION OF TREE SIZE, NEEDLE AGE AND CROWN POSITION IN Pinus patula

Authors

  • Edwin E. Cano-Morales
  • Alejandro Velázquez-Martínez
  • J. Jesús Vargas-Hernández2
  • Carlos Rodríguez-Franco
  • Aurelio M. Fierros-González

Keywords:

Pinus patula, specific leaf area, needle age

Abstract

Specific leaf area (SLA) variation (cm2g-1) in Pinus patula trees was studied as a function of tree size, crown position and needle age. The results showed that SLA is affected by tree size (p£0.01) as well as by needle age and crown position (p£0.05). Average SLA over all trees was 76.4 cm2g-1. However, there was obtained a significant reduction from 97.5 cm2g-1 in 5 cm DBH trees to 65.3 cm2g-1 in 45 cm DBH trees. In the same way, SLA increased for all DBH classes from the upper section towards the base of the crown and decreased in older needles. Observations showed that it is necessary to obtain separate foliage samples from different crown sections in order to improve the accuracy in leaf area estimations from leaf biomass data.

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Published

30-03-1996

Issue

Vol. 30 No. 1 (1996): 1996-ene-mar

Section

Natural Renewable Resources

License

Agrociencia is published every 45 days, in an English format, and it is edited by the Colegio de Postgraduados. Mexico-Texcoco highway Km. 36.5, Montecillo, Texcoco, Estado de México, CP 56264, Telephone (52) 5959284427. www.colpos.mx. Editor-in-Chief: Dr. Fernando Carlos Gómez Merino. Rights Reserved for Exclusive Use: 04-2021-031913431800-203, e-ISSN: 2521-9766, granted by the National Institute for Author Right.