CANOPY MANAGEMENTANAND CHARVIN.G

WHAT IS CANOPY?

Canopy is the above ground portion of a plant community or crop,

formed by the collection of individual plant crowns.

WHY CANOPY MANAGEMENT?Unmanaged tree canopy not only reduces the productivity of

agricultural crops, but nevertheless deteriorates the quality of produce

as well.

1. Canopy size decides the transmission of photosynthetically active

radiation to the understorey crops.

2. Canopy management practices like pollarding and partial crown

removal not only affects foliage and branch but also modifies

physiological parameters and resource utilization pattern.

CANOPY MANAGEMENT PRACTICES

POLLARDING

Pollarding is a method of

pruning that keeps trees

and shrubs smaller thanthey would naturally grow.

It is normally started once

a tree or shrub reaches a

certain height, and annual

pollarding will restrict theplant to that height.

PARTIAL CROWN REMOVAL

Partial crown removal refers

to the direct alteration of

tree crown. It ensuresproper light penetration to

the crops on the lower

layers. Light penetration is

an important factor and

Partial crown removal helpsto maintain the level.

LOPPING

Tree lopping is the process

of trimming various

sections of a tree.

Lopping may involve

clearing away branches

or limbs, or even shortening trunks.

THINNING

A felling made in an

immature stand for the

purpose of improving the growth and form of trees

that remain, without

permanently breaking the

canopy.

CANOPY MANAGEMENT PRACTICES

LIGHT AND SHADE

Light is one of the main climatic factors, which drives production.

The quantity as well as quality of solar radiation transmitted by tree canopy decides growth and productivity potential of the field crops.

amount of solar radiation intercepted by the tree canopy is responsible for production of foliage and branch wood biomass.

Major agricultural crops grown under agroforestry trees are shade sensitive. so are bound to be adversely affected on account of shading.

Shade intensity and duration both will have strong negative effects on the performance of understorey crops.

Many studies have concluded that shading caused due to the presence of tree canopies is a major factor causing crop yield reduction.

EMERGENT LAYER

CANOPY LAYER

UNDERSTORY LAYER

FOREST FLOOR

FOREST CANOPY LAYERS

100 % 10 %

79 %

7 %

2 %2 %

LIGHT

EMERGENT LAYER

Consists of giant emergent

trees that tower above the

surrounding canopy.

The air is much drier and

moderately strong winds

blow through their branches.

CANOPY LAYERS

CANOPY LAYER

Found directly beneath the

over story layer (emergent

layer).

The primary life sustaining

layer with an abundance of

food and forms a natural

roof over the remaining two

layers beneath.

UNDERSTORY LAYER

Directly underneath the

canopy layer and on top

of the forest floor.

This layer is a dark,

sometimes almost

impenetrable natural habitat like vines, shrub

and broadleaf trees.

CANOPY LAYERS

FOREST FLOOR

The Forest Floor is the ground layer.

Only around 2% of the total light reaches down this

layer

Quality of the soil is extremely poor and very

few plants are found growing in this area.

CONCLUSION

Any agroforestry system consisting trees having leaf area index (LAI)

between 4 and 6 may render it less productive and/ or

uneconomical due to developing canopies.

On the expected lines, unmanaged tree canopy not only reduces

the productivity of agricultural crops, but nevertheless deteriorates

the quality of produce as well.

Good Canopy management results in good sun light penetration

and good yield.

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