Evaluation of leaf area index of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.)

Leaf area index, was estimated through indirect and direct method for 1^st year Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) tree at commercial orchard during 2008–2009. The two commercial pomegranate orchards of 1^st year were selected and each orchard 5 numbers of representative plants randomly selected. The two types of leaf area index and shaded area at solar noon hour determination methods were used. The leaf area index at shaded area on solar noon hour and area occupied by plant varies from 3.06 to 6.84 and 0.18 to 0.71 and 3.53 to 5.78 and 0.52 to 0.87 by using indirect and direct methods. Regression coefficients are sufficiently high and the estimation of the LAI by proposed method could be satisfactory for the most purposes and experiments where the LAI determination is needed. The estimation techniques can be a time consuming process and required sophisticated electronic equipments. Therefore; the aim of this study was to develop a simple, accurate and time saving method for leaf area index estimation for Pomegranate trees.