Leaf chlorophyll content as a proxy for photosynthetic capacity
This research makes the case for using leaf chlorophyll content for modelling leaf photosynthetic capacity (Vcmax) from remote sensing observations. Conventionally leaf nitrogen has been used to model Vcmax, due it's investment in the RuBisCo enzyme. However, the dynamic partitioning of nitrogen, between and within photosynthetic and non-photosynthetic fractions means that the nitrogen-Vcmax varies seasonally, and also by species. The spatial and temporal variability of was mapped using Landsat TM/ETM satellite data across the forest site, using physical models to derive leaf chlorophyll. We therefore found that leaf chlorophyll provides a more accurate, direct proxy for Vcmax than from leaf nitrogen over the course of a complete growing season, and is also more easily retrievable from satellite data. |
For more information: Croft, H. Chen, J.M. Luo, X. Bartlett, P. Chen, B. Staebler, R. (2017) Leaf chlorophyll content as a proxy for leaf photosynthetic capacity. Global Change Biology 23(9), 1365-2486