Estimation of leaf area from leaf and total mass measurements in peanut

Leaf area index (LAI) is important for light interception, radiation use efficiency (RUE), and plant growth; however, determination of LAI requires substantial capital investment, often not available in developing countries. On the assumption that there is a sufficiently close relationship between leaf area (LA) and leaf dry weight (LDW) and possibly total biomass (TBM), it should be possible to estimate LA from these parameters. Therefore, eight peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) cultivars varying widely in growth habit were harvested at 10-d intervals, starting from 30 days after planting until harvest maturity in 1989 and used to determined LA from both LDW and aboveground TBM (.)