Publication Date

1997

Description

Light partitioning in a grass-clover mixture was studied using a general competition model. The model assumes a fixed extinction coefficient (k) and no leaf dispersion. This was compared with modelling the effect of different k of both species over height as well as the effect of type of leaf dispersion. These new assumptions led to a better estimation of the light partitioning between both species. For grass the effect of variable k and leaf dispersion was similar and in both cases the total absorbed light was lower than under default conditions. For clover the new assumptions led to a higher absorbed radiation than in the original model. However, in this case the effect of leaf dispersion was more important.

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Modelling the Effect of a Variable Light Extinction Coefficient and Leaf Dispersion on Light Partitioning Between Species in a Grass-Clover Mixture

Light partitioning in a grass-clover mixture was studied using a general competition model. The model assumes a fixed extinction coefficient (k) and no leaf dispersion. This was compared with modelling the effect of different k of both species over height as well as the effect of type of leaf dispersion. These new assumptions led to a better estimation of the light partitioning between both species. For grass the effect of variable k and leaf dispersion was similar and in both cases the total absorbed light was lower than under default conditions. For clover the new assumptions led to a higher absorbed radiation than in the original model. However, in this case the effect of leaf dispersion was more important.