Temporal dynamics of light and nitrogen vertical distributions in canopies of sunflower, kenaf and cynara

► Non-uniform SLN distributions were observed in all species when LAI was ≥1.5. ► Vertical SLN distributions were associated with the PAR distributions (r2 > 0.66). ► KL remained constant during the season for irrigated crops but not in droughted crops. ► Irrigated crops had significantly higher KL than droughted crops.