Training & Plant Architecture
Canopy Uniformity & Light Distribution
Canopy training changes the spatial distribution of shoots and leaves. Its value should be evaluated through light distribution, branch position, airflow, plant recovery, and final crop measurements rather than assuming that a flatter canopy automatically increases yield.
Key concepts
- Shoot height changes light interception across the canopy
- A uniform canopy can reduce extreme high- and low-light zones
- Leaf overlap and branch density can still create internal shade
- Training responses depend on genotype, growth stage, space, and recovery time
What to measure or observe
- Map PPFD across the canopy
- Record canopy height variation
- Photograph branch positions before and after training
- Track recovery and new shoot growth
Common mistakes
- Judging uniformity only from a top-down photo
- Assuming equal shoot height means equal light
- Training repeatedly without allowing recovery
- Claiming a yield benefit without a controlled comparison
Visuals this lesson still needs
- Uneven-versus-uniform canopy PPFD map
- Branch-height profile
- Leaf-overlap cross section
- Training outcome measurement card