Abstract

This chapter has introduced the topic of light interception and canopy sensing for tree fruit canopy management. The chapter explained why canopy light interception is useful information for agriculture and how modern canopy sensing systems can be used to develop decision support systems that can help growers. A brief literature review covered the following topics: (i) solar radiation and tree productivity; (ii) sensing canopy light interception; and (iii) modeling canopy light interception. The chapter also presented several applications of PAR interception measurement systems for assisting fruit tree canopy management, and estimating yield. Relationships between PAR interception and canopy volume have been discussed and examples of how canopy PAR interception can be used to estimate real or potential yield have been provided. In addition, case studies have been presented describing two mobile platforms that measure PAR under the canopies to estimate light interception data. It also described how geometrical transformation of the shadow can be used to represent midday PAR interception, with an empirical model describing the dynamic behavior of the shadow.