Estimation of Leaf Area Index: a case study with LAI-2000

Abstract

The leaf area index (LAI) is the key for modelling and knowledge of water and carbon cycle, therefore needed for the climate change measurement. This study makes a short review of direct and indirect methods with their advantages and their disadvantages; an overview of the discrepancies about the Licor LAI-2000 Plant Canopy Analyser is performed. Using LAI-2000 and a dual camera system (NIR VIS), field data were collected from 9 sites in the National Park Hainich, a mixed deciduous forest. The LAI 2000 was used in two sensor mode, thus calibration tests were conducted to estimate the correlation of different units of LAI-2000. The agreement between first rings was better than in between 4th and 5th ring, thus these rings were excluded in LAI calculations. The obtained values of LAI are inside the range of global values for deciduous forest. No corrections were applied to the LAI values. Overall, more strict, systematic and standardised methodology is suggested.