An indirect method of estimating leaf area index in Jatropha curcas L. using LAI-2000 Plant Canopy Analyzer

Leaf area index (LAI) is one of the most frequently used parameters for the analysis of canopy structure and is an important structural characteristic of crop monitoring and crop productivity. The work presented here evaluated the adequacy and the range of reliability of the LAI-2000 Plant Canopy Analyzer estimates for Jatropha (Jatropha curcas L.), one by comparison with LAI measurements derived by destructive sampling. The least root mean squared error, RMSE (RMSE = 0.262, at 30 cm distance from the stem base; RMSE = 0.29, at 15 cm distance from the stem base) observed with the 90° azimuthal viewing in both the methods used to evaluate the Jatropha LAI shows highest agreement between the direct and indirect methods.