A model of canopy photosynthesis in rice that combines sub-models of 3D plant architecture, radiation transfer, leaf energy balance and C3 photosynthesis

Abstract

Canopy photosynthetic CO2 uptake rate, instead of leaf photosynthetic CO2 assimilation rate, correlates with biomass production. We aim to develop a fully integrated model of canopy photosynthesis, which includes not only the prediction of the microclimates inside a canopy but also the related biophysical and biochemical processes in a leaf. Here we report our current status of the model of canopy photosynthesis, which includes the plant architecture, a ray-tracing algorithm, leaf energy balance and leaf level photosynthesis. The details of the modules involved in the model are described in this article. We also demonstrated its application by simulating a diurnal canopy photosynthesis rates.