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assessment of the forest productivity like model based
on biome types only (Whittaker and Likens, 1975),
model utilising the meteorological parameters (Lieth,
1973) and Forest BGC model (Running and Coughltan,
1988).
With the recent advances in remote sensing for
ecological research the Production Efficiency Model
approach has come up which takes into account the most
versatile parameter of vegetation i.e. APAR. Thus,
models utilising the direct relationship of APAR with
satellite parameters seem to attract the most. The
physical basis of these models is that the measurements
of light interception by canopy can be related
empirically to dry matter production over time to
produce predictive models of productivity as a function
of intercepted radiation. The relationship between dry
matter production and intercepted radiation under
relatively constant environmental conditions at a single
site usually is linear (Monteith, 1972; Linder, 1985;
Canned et cil., 1987).
W(t) — 8 C p X<(tPabs) t
Where, W (t) is the dry matter accumulation during time
interval t, 8,p is the conversion efficiency of plant to
convert light into dry matter and cp a b s is the absorbed
photosynthetically active radiation during time interval t.
Fig. 7. Approach for biomass estimation using remote sensing. (Statistical Sampling Technique)