Dry Matter and Leaf Area Relationships in Winter Barley1

Abstract

AbstractAn estimate of leaf area, which is required for most models of plant growth, is a time‐consuming and costly process, especially in large‐scale field experiments. The objective of this study was to obtain equations which could be used to determine quickly the leaf area of barley (Hordeum spp.) plants with the least margin of error. Six cultivars of winter barley were used, four, six‐rowed (Hordeum vulgare L.) and two, two‐rowed (Hordeum distichon L.) grown in Granada, Spain, (thermic, Calcixerollic Xerochrept soil) during 1979, 1980, and 1981. Leaf area was found to be strongly correlated with the leaf dry matter (r=0.957) during all of Feekes stages of growth. The aboveground dry matter was also found to be highly correlated with leaf area (r=0.969), but only until Feekes seventh stage (second node of stem formed, next‐to‐last leaf just visible). From this it is apparent that leaf dry matter in winter barley gives a good estimate of leaf area during all of its development, while the total dry matter can also be used until the seventh growth stage.