Response of LAI-2000 estimates to changes in plant surface area index in a Scots pine stand

We assessed the accuracy with which the LAI-2000 plant canopy analyzer measured changes in leaf area index (LAI) and plant area index (PAI) in a 25-year-old Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) stand. Stand density was 2100 stems ha(-1) and mean tree height was 8.7 m. Needle and branch areas of the stand were reduced progressively to zero by the stepwise removal of branches on all trees growing in a circular plot with a radius of 25 m. An LAI-2000 estimate was taken after each step reduction. The needle and branch surface areas removed at each step were estimated from direct measurements and were compared with the changes in the LAI-2000 estimates. Initially (before removal of branches), directly measured PAI was 5.2 (needles = 86%, branches = 8% and stems = 6%). The LAI-2000 estimate of total surface area was 66% of direct PAI and 77% of direct LAI. There was a nonlinear relationship between the LAI-2000 estimate and directly measured PAI, such that their ratio (equivalent to the clumping factor) increased from 0.66 to 1.05 with decreasing PAI. At the last measurement, when only stems were left, the LAI-2000 estimate agreed well with the direct measurement of PAI. The LAI-2000 underestimated the direct measurement of LAI at the first three steps when LAI was > 2 and the proportion of woody area was small (< 20%). However, because the LAI-2000 estimate included stem and branch areas, it overestimated the direct measurement of LAI at the last three measurements when the proportion of woody area was large (> 20%).