METHODS FOR DETERMINING CANOPY LEAF AREA INDEX OF PICEA CRASSIFOLIA FOREST IN QILIAN MOUNTAINS, CHINA

doi:10.3773/j.issn.1005-264x.2009.05.004

Abstract

Abstract:

Aims There is increasing need for regional estimates of leaf area index (LAI) because it is an essential input for many eco-hydrological processes models; however, there has been a lack of effective methods for its estimation. Picea crassifolia is the dominant species in the forest ecosystem of Qi- lian Mountains and is critical to the eco-hydrological processes of the ecosystem. Our objective is to compare methods for determining canopy LAI of this P. crassifolia forest.
Methods We investigated canopy LAI with an LAI-2000 canopy analyzer, hemispherical photography and allometric regression on tree height and diameter at breast height (DBH). The value was underestimated by the two instruments because of clumping in the conifer forest. In order to adjust the LAI measured and obtain the spatial distribution of LAI, we first measured the clumping index by Tracing Radiation and Architecture of Canopies (TRAC). Then we calculated the adjusting coefficient by the clumping index, which was used to adjust the LAI value measured by hemispherical photography. Then, we determined the relationship between adjusted LAI and vegetation indexes retrieved by high resolution remote sensing data (QuickBird) and estimated the spatial distribution of canopy LAI.
Important findings The values of canopy LAI were 1.03-3.70 by LAI-2000 canopy analyzer, 0.48-2.26 by hemispherical photography, and 2.27-8.20 by allometric regression. LAI value by allometric regression on tree height and DBH was used for assessing the measurement accuracy by the other two indirect measurement techniques. We found the two instruments (LAI-2000 canopy analyzer and hemispherical photography) under estimated the canopy LAI of the forest by about 3.14-3.86 times. We built statistical models between adjusted LAI and vegetation indexes and selected the optimal model, i.e., correlation between normalized difference vegetation index and LAI, through validating.

Key words: canopy leaf area index, hemispherical photography, Picea crassifolia, remote sensing data (QuickBird), Qilian Mountains

ZHAO Chuan-Yan, SHEN Wei-Hua, PENG Huan-Hua. METHODS FOR DETERMINING CANOPY LEAF AREA INDEX OF PICEA CRASSIFOLIA FOREST IN QILIAN MOUNTAINS, CHINA[J]. Chin J Plant Ecol, 2009, 33(5): 860-869.

Add to citation manager EndNote|Ris|BibTeX

URL: https://www.plant-ecology.com/EN/10.3773/j.issn.1005-264x.2009.05.004

https://www.plant-ecology.com/EN/Y2009/V33/I5/860

Figures/Tables 8

References 36

[1]	Abduwasit Ghulam (阿布都瓦斯提·吾拉木), Qin QM (秦其明), Zhu LJ (朱黎江) (2004). 6S model based atmospheric correction of visible and near 2 infrared data and sensitivity analysis. Acta Scientiarum Naturalium Universitatis Pekinensis (北京大学学报自然科学版), 40, 611-618. (in Chinese with English abstract)
[2]	Beaudet M, Messier C (2002). Variation in canopy openness and light transmission following selection cutting in northern hardwood stands: an assessment based on hemispherical photographs. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, 110, 217-228. DOI URL
[3]	Bonan GB (1995). Land-atmosphere interactions for climate system models: coupling biophysical, biogeochemical, and ecosystem dynamical processes. Remote Sensing of Environment, 51, 57-73. DOI URL
[4]	Chang XX (常学向), Che KJ (车克钧), Song CF (宋彩福) (1996). Preliminary studies on the biomass of Picea crassifolia forest community in Qilian Mountains. Journal of Northwest Forestry College (西北林学院学报), 11, 19-23. (in Chinese with English abstract)
[5]	Chang XX (常学向), Zhao AF (赵爱芬), Wang JY (王金叶), Chang ZQ (常宗强), Jin BW (金博文) (2002). Precipitation characteristic and interception of forest in Qilian Mountains. Plateau Meteorology (高原气象), 21, 274-280. (in Chinese with English abstract)
[6]	Chen JM (1996). Optically-based methods for measuring seasonal variation of leaf area index in boreal conifer stands. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, 80, 135-163. DOI URL
[7]	Chen JM, Black TA (1992). Defining leaf area index for non-flat leaves. Plant, Cell and Environment, 15, 421-429.
[8]	Chen JM, Cihlar J (1995). Quantifying the effect of canopy architecture on optical measurements of leaf area index using two gap size analysis methods. IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing, 33, 777-787. DOI URL
[9]	Chen JM, Cihlar J (1996). Retrieving leaf area index of boreal conifer forest using Landsat TM images. Remote Sensing of Environment, 55, 153-162. DOI URL
[10]	Chen JM, Rich PM, Gower ST, Norman JM, Plummer S (1997). Leaf area index of boreal forests: theory, techniques, and measurements. Journal of Geophysical Research, 102(D24), 29429-29443. DOI URL
[11]	Gardingen PR, Jackson GE, Hernandez-Daumas S, Russell G, Sharp L (1999). Leaf area index estimates obtained for clumped canopies using hemispherical photography. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, 94, 243-257. DOI URL
[12]	Gower ST, Kucharik CJ, Norman JM (1999). Direct and indirect estimation of leaf area index, fapar, and net primary production of terrestrial ecosystems. Remote Sensing of Environment, 70, 29-51. DOI URL
[13]	Hanan NP, Bégué A (1995). A method to estimate instantaneous and daily intercepted photosynthetically active radiation using a hemispherical sensor. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, 74, 155-168. DOI URL
[14]	Hu JM (胡金明), Deng W (邓伟), Xia BC (夏佰成) (2005). Application of LASCAM in study on the ecohydrological processes of catchment. Scientia Geographica Sinica (地理科学), 25, 427-433. (in Chinese with English abstract)
[15]	Jonckheere I, Fleck S, Nackaerts K, Muys B, Coppin P, Weiss M, Baret F (2004). Review of methods for in situ leaf area index determination. Part I. Theories, sensors and hemispherical photography. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, 121(1-2), 19-35. DOI URL
[16]	Kang ES (康尔泗), Cheng GD (程国栋), Lan YC (蓝永超) , Chen RS (陈仁升), Zhang JS (张济世) (2002). Application of a conceptual hydrological model in the runoff forecast of a mountainous watershed. Advances in Earth Science (地球科学进展), 17, 18-26. (in Chinese with English abstract)
[17]	Kovacs JM, Flores-Verdugo F, Wang JF, Aspden LP (2004). Estimating leaf area index of a degraded mangrove forest using high spatial resolution satellite data. Aquatic Botany, 80, 13-22. DOI URL
[18]	Liu XC (刘兴聪) (1992). Picea crassifolia (青海云杉). Lanzhou University Press, Lanzhou, 45-54. (in Chinese)
[19]	Ma ZQ (马泽清), Liu Q (刘琪), Zeng HQ (曾慧卿), Li XR (李轩然), Chen YR (陈永瑞), Lin YM (林耀明), Zhang SH (张时煌), Yang FT (杨风亭), Wang HQ (汪宏清) (2008). Estimation of leaf area index of planted forests in subtropical China by photogrammetry. Acta Ecologica Sinica (生态学报), 28, 1971-1980. (in Chinese with English abstract)
[20]	Martin W, Fred H, Reinhard W, Frank W, Valentina K, Franz B (2005). A simplified approach to implement forest eco-hydrological properties in regional hydrological modelling. Ecological Modelling, 187, 40-59. DOI URL
[21]	Planchais I, Pontailler JY (1999). Validity of leaf areas and angles estimated in a beech forest from analysis of gap frequencies, using hemispherical photographs and a plant canopy analyser. Annals of Forest Science, 56, 1-10. DOI URL
[22]	Running SW, Nemani RR, Peterson DL, Band LE, Potts DF, Pierce LL, Spanner MA (1989). Mapping regional forest evapotranspiration and photosynthesis by coupling satellite data with ecosystem simulation. Ecology, 70, 1090-1101. DOI URL
[23]	Sun PS (孙鹏森), Liu SR (刘世荣), Liu JT (刘京涛), Li CW (李崇巍), Lin Y (林勇), Jiang H (江洪) (2006). Derivation and validation of leaf area index maps using NDVI data of different resolution satellite images. Acta Ecologica Sinica (生态学报), 26, 3826-3834. (in Chinese with English abstract)
[24]	Tan YB (谭一波), Zhao ZH (赵仲辉) (2008). The main methods for determining leaf area index. Forest Inventory and Planning (林业调查规划), 33(3), 45-48. (in Chinese with English abstract)
[25]	Tian Q, Luo Z, Chen JM, Chenc M, Hui F (2007). Retrieving leaf area index for coniferous forest in Xingguo County, China with Landsat ETM + images. Journal of Environmental Management, 85, 624-627. DOI URL
[26]	Turner DP, Cohen WB, Kennedy RE, Fassnacht KS, Briggs JM (1999). Relationships between leaf area index, fPAR, and net primary production of terrestrial ecosystems. Remote Sensing of Environment, 70, 52-68. DOI URL
[27]	Veroustraete F, Patyn J, Myneni RB (1996). Estimating net ecosystem exchange of carbon using the normalized difference vegetation index and an ecosystem model. Remote Sensing of Environment, 58, 115-130. DOI URL
[28]	Wang P, Sun R, Hu J, Zhu Q, Zhou Y, Li L, Chen JM (2007). Measurements and simulation of forest leaf area index and net primary productivity in Northern China. Journal of Environmental Management, 85, 607-615. DOI URL
[29]	Wang SL (王顺利), Wang JY (王金叶), Zhang XL (张学龙), Jing WM (敬文茂) (2006). Distribution of withered litters of moss and hydrographic characteristics in the Picea crassifolia forest on Qilian Mountain. Research of Soil and Water Conservation (水土保持研究), 13(5), 156-159. (in Chinese with English abstract)
[30]	Wang XQ (王希群), Ma LY (马履一), Jia ZK (贾忠奎), Xu CY (徐程扬) (2005). Research and application advances in leaf area index (LAI). Chinese Journal of Ecology (生态学杂志), 24, 537-541. (in Chinese with English abstract)
[31]	Watson FGR, Grayson RB, Vertessy RA, McMahon TA (1998). Large scale distribution modeling and the utility of detailed ground data. Hydrological Processes, 12, 873-888. DOI URL
[32]	Weiss M, Baret F, Smith GJ, Jonckheere I, Coppin P (2004). Review of methods for in situ leaf area index (LAI) determination. Part II. Estimation of LAI, errors and sampling. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, 121, 37-53. DOI URL
[33]	White MA, Asner GP, Nemani RR, Privette JL, Running SW (2000). Measuring fractional cover and leaf area index in arid ecosystems: digital camera, radiation transmittance, and laser altimetry methods. Remote Sensing of Environments, 74, 45-57. DOI URL
[34]	Xia J (夏军), Wang GS (王纲胜), Lü AF (吕爱锋), Tan G (谈戈) (2003). A research on distributed time variant gain modeling. Acta Geographica Sinica (地理学报), 58, 789-796. (in Chinese with English abstract) DOI URL
[35]	Zhang H (张虎), Wen YL (温娅丽), Ma L (马力), Chang ZQ (常宗强), Wang JY (王金叶) (2001). The climate features and regionalization of vertical climatic zones in the northern slope of Qilian Mountains. Journal of Mountains Science (山地学报), 19, 497-502. (in Chinese with English abstract)
[36]	Zhou YY (周宇宇), Tang SH (唐世浩), Zhu QJ (朱启疆), Li JT (李江涛), Sun R (孙睿), Liu SH (刘素红) (2003). Measurement of LAI in Changbai Mountains Nature Reserve and its result. Resources Science (资源科学), 25(6), 38-42. (in Chinese with English abstract)

样方号 No. of sample	坡度 Slope (°)	经度Longitude (E)	纬度Latitude (N)	坡向 Aspect (°)	海拔 Altitude (m)	株数 No. of plants (株·hm^-2)	树高 Height of trees (m)	胸径DBH (cm)	胸高断面积Basal area at DBH (cm²)	冠层盖度Canopy gap fraction (%)
No. 1	30	100.28°	38.55°	25	2 655	1 350	9.84	7.41	172.56	68.98
No. 2	27	100.29°	38.54°	30	2 835	2 475	9.44	7.13	159.85	77.02
No. 3	25	100.30°	38.54°	12	2 889	2 225	7.78	7.20	162.93	80.34
No. 4	21	100.30°	38.54°	8	3 005	2 200	7.04	7.23	164.28	71.70
No. 5	22	100.30°	38.54°	18	3 106	825	6.88	2.49	19.47	57.01
No. 6	34	100.30°	38.54°	355	3 260	375	5.21	2.43	18.56	22.15

样方号 No. of sample	坡度 Slope (°)	经度Longitude (E)	纬度Latitude (N)	坡向 Aspect (°)	海拔 Altitude (m)	株数 No. of plants (株·hm^-2)	树高 Height of trees (m)	胸径DBH (cm)	胸高断面积Basal area at DBH (cm²)	冠层盖度Canopy gap fraction (%)
No. 1	30	100.28°	38.55°	25	2 655	1 350	9.84	7.41	172.56	68.98
No. 2	27	100.29°	38.54°	30	2 835	2 475	9.44	7.13	159.85	77.02
No. 3	25	100.30°	38.54°	12	2 889	2 225	7.78	7.20	162.93	80.34
No. 4	21	100.30°	38.54°	8	3 005	2 200	7.04	7.23	164.28	71.70
No. 5	22	100.30°	38.54°	18	3 106	825	6.88	2.49	19.47	57.01
No. 6	34	100.30°	38.54°	355	3 260	375	5.21	2.43	18.56	22.15

	鱼眼镜头4环LAI平均值 Average LAI by Fisheyes 4R	鱼眼镜头5环LAI平均值 Average LAI by Fisheyes 5R	冠层分析仪4环LAI平均值 Average LAI by LAI-2000 4R	冠层分析仪5环LAI平均值 Average LAI by LAI-2000 5R	异速函数获得的LAI The LAI by allometric equation
鱼眼镜头4环LAI平均值 Average LAI by Fisheyes 4R	1
鱼眼镜头5环LAI平均值 Average LAI by Fisheyes 5R	0.99	1
冠层分析仪4环LAI平均值 Average LAI by LAI-2000 4R	0.28	0.29	1
冠层分析仪5环LAI平均值 Average LAI by LAI-2000 5R	0.25	0.25	0.95	1
异速函数获得的LAI The LAI by allometric equation	0.69	0.68	0.29	0.27	1

	鱼眼镜头4环LAI平均值 Average LAI by Fisheyes 4R	鱼眼镜头5环LAI平均值 Average LAI by Fisheyes 5R	冠层分析仪4环LAI平均值 Average LAI by LAI-2000 4R	冠层分析仪5环LAI平均值 Average LAI by LAI-2000 5R	异速函数获得的LAI The LAI by allometric equation
鱼眼镜头4环LAI平均值 Average LAI by Fisheyes 4R	1
鱼眼镜头5环LAI平均值 Average LAI by Fisheyes 5R	0.99	1
冠层分析仪4环LAI平均值 Average LAI by LAI-2000 4R	0.28	0.29	1
冠层分析仪5环LAI平均值 Average LAI by LAI-2000 5R	0.25	0.25	0.95	1
异速函数获得的LAI The LAI by allometric equation	0.69	0.68	0.29	0.27	1