Calibrating the LI-COR LAI-2000 for estimating leaf area index in eucalypt plantations

Abstract

A calibration curve relating plant area index (PAI) as measured with the LI-COR LAI-2000 (PCA) to leaf area index was developed for Eucalyptus nitens plantations in Tasmania. This was done by developing allometric relationships for branch leaf area and branch diameter, and tree leaf area and tree diameter. These were used to estimate leaf area index for six E. nitens plantation sites. Leaf area index calculated from the developed allometric relationships (L* 1 ) was tightly correlated with the PAI measured by the PCA (L* 2 ). This relationship (r 2 = 0.99) can be expressed as L* 1 = 1.54L* 2 - 0.1. The relationship is similar to that reported in studies with other arboreal species and suggests that a common calibration curve may be appropriate for most eucalypt plantation species.