Quantitative Relationship between Leaf Area Index and Canopy Reflectance Spectra of Rice under Different Nitrogen Levels

Monitoring rice growth by spectral remote sensing technology can provide scientific basis for the high yield and efficient production of rice. Field experiments with different nitrogen application amounts using Tianyouhuazhan rice as test sam- ples were set up to study the relationship between rice leaf area index （LAI） and canopy reflectance spectral. The results showed that： the LAI increased with the amount of applied nitrogen; the canopy reflectance spectral showed significant re- sponse characteristics to groups with different nitrogen application levels; the corre- lation coefficient of LAI and canopy spectral reflectance reached the maximum at 720 nm red edge region. The mathematical model was constructed to predict the LAI according to the canopy reflectance spectra of rice.

Effects of Different Irrigation Times and Nitrogen Fertilizer Application on Leaf Area Index and Grain Yield of ‘Yujiao 5'

To provide ＂more reasonable, more saving and more efficient＂ water and fertilizer application proposals, taking ‘Yujiao 5＇ as the experimental material, the effects of different irrigation times and nitrogen application treatments on the leaf area index and yield of wheat were studied using three-factor split plot method. The results showed that irrigation times, nitrogen application rate and the ratio of basa to topdressed nitrogen respectively had significant effects on the leaf area index, the yield and component factors of wheat. Under the treatment of W1（irrigation before sowing）, the leaf area index showed a positive linear correlation with nitrogen application rate; under the treatments of W2（irrigation before sowing and at jointing stage） and W3（irrigation before sowing, at jointing stage and at grain filling stages）,the leaf area index showed a positive linear correlation with nitrogen application rate at the jointing stage, booting stage and heading stage; 20 d after heading, the leaf area index showed a quadric curve relationship with nitrogen application rate at these stages, and the LAI of N3R2 was the highest. Under different irrigation times,the yield, ear number and kernels per ear showed quadric curve relationship with nitrogen application rate, 1 000-seed weight showed the trend of linear decrease with the increase of nitrogen application rate. Under the treatment combination of irrigation before sowing, at jointing stage and at grain filling stage, nitrogen application rate at 240 kg/hm^2 and the ratio of basal to topdressed nitrogen of 5：5, the grain yield（8 609.60 kg/hm^2）, ear number（688.2×104/hm^2） and kernel number per ear（37.9 grains） reached the highest value at W3N3R2, and the grain yield of W3N3R2 increased by 144.8% compared to the W1N0. In conclusion, in Eastern Henan where the rainfall is insufficient at the late growth stage of wheat, the irrigation-saving space in wheat production is relatively small, but the nitrogen-saving space is relatively large.

Comparative analysis of GF-1,HJ-1,and Landsat-8 data for estimating the leaf area index of winter wheat

Using simultaneously collected remote sensing data and field measurements, this study firstly assessed the consistency and applicability of China high-resolution earth observation system satellite 1 （GF-1） wide field of view （WFV） camera, environment and disaster monitoring and forecasting satellite （H J-l） charge coupled device （CCD）, and Landsat-8 opera- tional land imager （OLI） data for estimating the leaf area index （LAI） of winter wheat via reflectance and vegetation indices （VIs）. The accuracies of these LAI estimates were then assessed through comparison with an empirical model and the PROSAIL radiative transfer model. The effects of radiation calibration, spectral response functions, and spatial resolution on discrepancies in the LAI estimates between the different sensors were also analyzed. The results yielded the following observations： （1） The correlation between reflectance from different sensors is relative good, with the adjusted coefficients of determination （R2） between 0.375 to 0.818. The differences in reflectance are ranging from 0.002 to 0.054. The correlation between VIs from different sensors is high with the R2 between 0.729 and 0.933. The differences in the VIs are ranging from 0.07 to 0.156. These results show the three sensors＇ images can all be used for cross calibration of the reflectance and VIs. （2） The four VIs from the three sensors are all demonstrated to be highly correlated with LAI （R2 between 0.703 and 0.849）. The linear models associated with the 2-band enhanced vegetation index （EVI2）, which feature the highest R2 （higher than 0.746） and the lowest root mean square errors （RMSE） （less than 0.21）, were selected to estimate the winter wheat LAI. The accuracy of the estimated LAI from Landsat-8 was the highest, with the relative errors （RE） of 2.18% and an RMSE of 0.13, while the H J-1 was the lowest, with the RE of 2.43% and the RMSE of 0.15. （3） The inversion errors in the different sensors＇ LAI estimates using the PROSAIL model are small. The accuracy of the GF-1 is the highest with the RE of 3.44%, and the RMSE of 0.22, whereas that of the H J-1 is the lowest with the RE of 4.95%, and the RMSE of 0.26. （4） The effects of the spectral response function and radiation calibration for the different sensors are small and can be ignored, but the effects of spatial resolution are significant and must be taken into consideration in practical applications.

New Vegetation Index and Its Application in Estimating Leaf Area Index of Rice

Leaf area index （LAI） is an important characteristic of land surface vegetation system, and is also a key parameter for the models of global water balancing and carbon circulation. By using the reflectance values of Landsat-5 blue, green and red channels simulated from rice reflectance spectrum, the sensitivities of the bands to LAI were analyzed, and the response and capability to estimate LAI of various NDVIs （normalized difference vegetation indices）, which were established by substituting the red band of general NDVI with all possible combinations of red, green and blue bands, were assessed. Finally, the conclusion was tested by rice data at different conditions. The sensitivities of red, green and blue bands to LAI were different under various conditions. When LAI was less than 3, red and blue bands were more sensitive to LAI. Though green band in the circumstances was less sensitive to LAI than red and blue bands, it was sensitive to LAI in a wider range. When the vegetation indices were constituted by all kinds of combinations of red, green and blue bands, the premise for making the sensitivity of these vegetation indices to LAI be meaningful was that the value of one of the combinations was greater than 0.024, i.e. visible reflectance （VIS）〉0.024. Otherwise, the vegetation indices would be saturated, resulting in lower estimation accuracy of LAI. Comparison on the capabilities of the vegetation indices derived from all kinds of combinations of red, green and blue bands to LAI estimation showed that GNDVI （Green NDVI） and GBNDVI （Green-Blue NDVI） had the best relations with LAI. The capabilities of GNDVI and GBNDVI to LAI estimation were tested under different circumstances, and the same result was acquired. It suggested that GNDVI and GBNDVI performed better to predict LAI than the conventional NDVI.

Mapping Spatial and Temporal Variations of Leaf Area Index for Winter Wheat in North China

Leaf area index （LAI） is an important parameter in a number of models related to ecosystem functioning, carbon budgets, climate, hydrology, and crop growth simulation. Mapping and monitoring the spatial and temporal variations of LAI are necessary for understanding crop growth and development at regional level. In this study, the relationships between LAI of winter wheat and Landsat TM spectral vegetation indices （SVIs） were analyzed by using the curve estimation procedure in North China Plain. The series of LAI maps retrieved by the best regression model were used to assess the spatial and temporal variations of winter wheat LAI. The results indicated that the general relationships between LAI and SVIs were curvilinear, and that the exponential model gave a better fit than the linear model or other nonlinear models for most SVIs. The best regression model was constructed using an exponential model between surface-reflectance-derived difference vegetation index （DVI） and LAI, with the adjusted R2 （0.82） and the RMSE （0.77）. The TM LAI maps retrieved from DVILAI model showed the significant spatial and temporal variations. The mean TM LAI value （30 m） for winter wheat of the study area increased from 1.29 （March 7, 2004） to 3.43 （April 8, 2004）, with standard deviations of 0.22 and 1.17, respectively. In conclusion, spectral vegetation indices from multi-temporal Landsat TM images can be used to produce fine-resolution LAI maps for winter wheat in North China Plain.

Relationship of 2 100-2 300 nm Spectral Characteristics of Wheat Canopy to Leaf Area Index and Leaf N as Affected by Leaf Water Content

The effects of leaf water status in a wheat canopy on the accuracy of estimating leaf area index (LAI) and N were determined in this study using extracted spectral characteristics in the 2 000-2 300 nm region of the short wave infrared (SWI) band. A newly defined spectral index, relative adsorptive index in the 2000-2300 nm region (RAI2000-2300), which can be calculated by RAI2000-2300 = (R2224 - R2054) (R2224 + R2054)-1 with R being the reflectance at 2224 or 2054 nm, was utilized. This spectral index, RAI2000-2300, was significantly correlated (P < 0.01) with green LAI and leaf N concentration and proved to be potentially valuable for monitoring plant green LAI and leaf N at the field canopy scale. Moreover, plant LAI could be monitored more easily and more successfully than plant leaf N. The study also showed that leaf water had a strong masking effect on the 2 000-2 300 nm spectral characteristics and both the coefficient between RAI2000-2300 and green LAI and that between RAI2000-2300 and leaf N content decreased as leaf water content increased.

Simulation of leaf area index and biomass at landscape scale

The method for simulating the temporal and spatial distribution patterns of leaf area index (LAI) and biomass at landscape scale using remote sensing images and surface data was discussed in this paper. The procedure was: (1) annual maximum normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) over the landscape was calculated from TM images; (2) the relationship model between NDVI and LAI was built and annual maximum LAI over the landscape was simulated; (3) the relationship models between LAI and biomass were built and annual branch, stem, root and maximum leaf biomass over the landscape were simulated; (4) spatial distribution patterns of leaf biomass and LAI in different periods all the year round were obtained. The simulation was based on spatial analysis module GRID in ArcInfo software. The method is also a kind of scaling method from patch scale to landscape scale. A case study of Changbai Mountain Nature Reserve was dissertated. Analysis and primary validation were carried out to the simulated LAI and biomass for the major vegetation types in the Changbai Mountain in 1995.

Optimal waveband identification for estimation of leaf area index of paddy rice

The objectives of the study were to select suitable wavebands for rice leaf area index （LAI） estimation using the data acquired over a whole growing season, and to test the efficiency of the selected wavebands by comparing them with feature positions of rice canopy spectra. In this study, the field experiment in 2002 growing season was conducted at the experimental farm of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China. Measurements of hyperspectral reflectance （350-2500 nm） and corresponding LAI were made for a paddy rice canopy throughout the growing season. And three methods were employed to identify the optimal wavebands for paddy rice LAI estimation： correlation coefficient-based method, vegetation index-based method, and stepwise regression method. This research selected 15 wavebands in the region of 350-2500 nm, which appeared to be the optimal wavebands for the paddy rice LAI estimation. Of the selected wavebands, the most frequently occurring wavebands were centered around 554, 675, 723, and 1633 rim. They were followed by 444, 524, 576, 594, 804, 849, 974, 1074, 1219, 1510, and 2194 rim. Most of them made physical sense and had their counterparts in spectral known feature positions, which indicates the promising potential of the 15 selected wavebands for the retrieval of paddy rice LAI.

Assimilation of temporal-spatial leaf area index into the CERES-Wheat model with ensemble Kalman filter and uncertainty assessment for improving winter wheat yield estimation

To accurately estimate winter wheat yields and analyze the uncertainty in crop model data assimilations, winter wheat yield estimates were obtained by assimilating measured or remotely sensed leaf area index （LAI） values. The performances of the calibrated crop environment resource synthesis for wheat （CERES-Wheat） model for two different assimilation scenarios were compared by employing ensemble Kalman filter （EnKF）-based strategies. The uncertainty factors of the crop model data assimilation was analyzed by considering the observation errors, assimilation stages and temporal-spatial scales. Overalll the results indicated a better yield estimate performance when the EnKF-based strategy was used to comprehen- sively consider several factors in the initial conditions and observations. When using this strategy, an adjusted coefficients of determination （R2） of 0.84, a root mean square error （RMSE） of 323 kg ha-1, and a relative errors （RE） of 4.15% were obtained at the field plot scale and an R2 of 0.81, an RMSE of 362 kg ha-1, and an RE of 4.52% were obtained at the pixel scale of 30 mx30 m. With increasing observation errors, the accuracy of the yield estimates obviously decreased, but an acceptable estimate was observed when the observation errors were within 20%. Winter wheat yield estimates could be improved significantly by assimilating observations from the middle to the end of the crop growing seasons. With decreasing assimilation frequency and pixel resolution, the accuracy of the crop yield estimates decreased; however, the computation time decreased. It is important to consider reasonable temporal-spatial scales and assimilation stages to obtain tradeoffs between accuracy and computation time, especially in operational systems used for regional crop yield estimates.

Evaluation of Spectral Scale Effects in Estimation of Vegetation Leaf Area Index Using Spectral Indices Methods

Spectral index methodology has been widely used in Leaf Area Index(LAI) retrieval at different spatial scales. There are differences in the spectral response of different remote sensors and thus spectral scale effect generated during the use of spectral indices to retrieve LAI. In this study, PROSPECT, leaf optical properties model and Scattering by Arbitrarily Inclined Layers(SAIL) model, were used to simulate canopy spectral reflectance with a bandwidth of 5 nm and a Gaussian spectral response function was employed to simulate the spectral data at six bandwidths ranging from 10 to 35 nm. Additionally, for bandwidths from 5 to 35 nm, the correlation between the spectral index and LAI, and the sensitivities of the spectral index to changes in LAI and bandwidth were analyzed. Finally, the reflectance data at six bandwidths ranging from 40 to 65 nm were used to verify the spectral scale effect generated during the use of the spectral index to retrieve LAI. Results indicate that Vegetation Index of the Universal Pattern Decomposition(VIUPD) had the highest accuracy during LAI retrieval. Followed by Normalized Difference Vegetation Index(NDVI), Modified Simple Ratio Indices(MSRI) and Triangle Vegetation Index(TVI), although the coefficient of determination R^2 was higher than 0.96, the retrieved LAI values were less than the actual value and thus lacked validity. Other spectral indices were significantly affected by the spectral scale effect with poor retrieval results. In this study, VIUPD, which exhibited a relatively good correlation and sensitivity to LAI, was less affected by the spectral scale effect and had a relatively good retrieval capability. This conclusion supports a purported feature independent of the sensor of this model and also confirms the great potential of VIUPD for retrieval of physicochemical parameters of vegetation using multi-source remote sensing data.

Leaf area index retrieval based on canopy reflectance and vegetation index in eastern China

The aim of this paper is to investigate the feasibility of using Landsat TM data to retrieve leaf area index (LAI). To get a LAI retrieval model based ground reflectance and vegetation index, detailed field data were collected in the study area of eastern China, dominated by bamboo, tea plant and greengage. Plant canopy reflectance of Landsat TM wavelength bands has been inversed using software of 6S. LAI is an important ecological parameter. In this paper, atmospheric corrected Landsat TM imagery was utilized to calculate different vegetation indices (VI), such as simple ratio vegetation index (SR), shortwave infrared modified simple ratio (MSR), and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI). Data of 53 samples of LAI were measured by LAI-2000 (LI-COR) in the study area. LAI was modeled based on different reflectances of bands and different vegetation indices from Landsat TM and LAI samples data. There are certainly correlations between LAI and the reflectance of TM3, TM4, TM5 and TM7. The best model through analyzing the results is LAI = 1.2097*MSR + 0.4741 using the method of regression analysis. The result shows that the correlation coefficient R2 is 0.5157, and average accuracy is 85.75%. However, whether the model of this paper is suitable for application in subtropics needs to be verified in the future.

A NEW QUANTITATIVE WAY FOR DETERMINING LEAF AREA INDEX AND NET PRIMARY PRODUCTIVITY IN REGIONAL SCALE

An inversion of bidirectional reflection distribution fiJnedon (BRDF) wastested using NK Model and NOAA AVHRR datu. The test involVed sensitiveanalysis, optimum inversion selecting, ground simulated expenment, calibrahngmeasuremed with satellite and computer image processmg. Results of comparisonwith NDVI indicatal that inversion of BRDF will have brigh developing prospect inthe next decade.

Comprehensive Study on the Influence of Evapotranspiration and Albedo on Surface Temperature Related to Changes in the Leaf Area Index

Many studies have investigated the influence of evapotranspiration and albedo and emphasize their separate effects but ignore their interactive influences by changing vegetation status in large amplitudes. This paper focuses on the comprehensive influence of evapotranspiration and albedo on surface temperature by changing the leaf area index （LAD between 30^-90~N. Two LAI datasets with seasonally different amplitudes of vegetation change between 30^-90~N were used in the simulations. Seasonal differences between the results of the simulations are compared, and the major findings are as follows. （1） The interactive effects of evapotranspiration and albedo on surface temperature were different over different regions during three seasons [March-April-May （MAM）, June-July-August （JJA）, and September-October-November （SON）], i.e., they were always the same over the southeastern United States during these three seasons but were opposite over most regions between 30°-90°N during JJA. （2） Either evapotranspiration or albedo tended to be dominant over different areas and during different seasons. For example, evapotranspiration dominated almost all regions between 30^-90~N during JJA, whereas albedo played a dominant role over northwestern Eurasia during MAM and over central Eurasia during SON. （3） The response of evapotranspiration and albedo to an increase in LAI with different ranges showed different paces and signals. With relatively small amplitudes of increased LAI, the rate of the relative increase in evapotranspiration was quick, and positive changes happened in albedo. But both relative changes in evapotranspiration and albedo tended to be gentle, and the ratio of negative changes of albedo increased with relatively large increased amplitudes of LAI.

Topographic Correction-Based Retrieval of Leaf Area Index in Mountain Areas

Leaf Area Index(LAI)is a key parameter in vegetation analysis and management,especially for mountain areas.The accurate retrieval of LAI based on remote sensing data is very necessary.In a study at the Dayekou forest center in Heihe watershed of Gansu Province,we determined the LAI based on topographic corrections of a SPOT-5.The large variation in the mountain terrain required preprocessing of the SPOT-5 image,except when orthorectification, radiation calibration and atmospheric correction were used.These required acquisition of surface reflectance and several vegetation indexes and linkage to field measured LAI values.Statistical regression models were used to link LAI and vegetation indexes.The quadratic polynomial model between LAI and SAVI (L=0.35)was determined as the optimal model considering the R and R2 value.A second group of LAI data were reserved to validate the retrieval result.The model was applied to create a distribution map of LAI in the area.Comparison with an uncorrected SPOT-5 image showed that topographic correction is necessary for determination of LAI in mountain areas.

The Suitability of Using Leaf Area Index to Quantify Soil Loss under Vegetation Cover

Soil erosion by water under forest cover is a serious problem in southern China.A comparative study was carried out on the use of leaf area index(LAI) and vegetation fractional coverage(VFC) in quantifying soil loss under vegetation cover.Five types of vegetation with varied LAI and VFC under field conditions were exposed to two rainfall rates(40 mm h-1 and 54 mm h-1) using a portable rainfall simulator.Runoff rate,sediment concentration and soil loss rate were measured at relatively runoff stable state.Significant negative exponential relationship(p < 0.05,R2 = 0.83) and linear relationship(p < 0.05,R2 = 0.84) were obtained between LAI and sediment concentration,while no significant relationship existed between VFC and sediment concentration.The mechanism by which vegetation canopy prevents soil loss was by reducing rainfall kinetic energy and sediment concentration.LAI could better quantify such a role than VFC.However,neither LAI nor VFC could explain runoff rate or soil loss rate.Caution must be taken when using LAI to quantify the role of certain vegetation in soil and water conservation.

Performance and Analysis of a Model for Describing Layered Leaf Area Index of Rice

Layered leaf area index （LAIk） is one of the major determinants for rice canopy. The objective of this study is to attain rice LAI k using morphological traits especially leaf traits that affected plant type. A theoretical model based on rice geometrical structure was established to describe LAI k of rice with leaf length （Li）, width （Wi）, angle （Ai）, and space （Si）, and plant pole height （H） at booting and heading stages. In correlation with traditional manual measurement, the model was performed by high R2-values （0.95-0.89, n=24） for four rice hybrids （Liangyoupeijiu, Liangyou E32, Liangyou Y06, and Shanyou 63） with various plant types and four densities （3 750, 2 812, 1 875, and 1 125 plants per 100 m2） of a particular hybrid （Liangyoupeijiu）. The analysis of leaf length, width, angle, and space on LAI k for two hybrids （Liangyoupeijiu and Shanyou 63） showed that leaves length and space exhibited greater effects on the change of rice LAI k . The radiation intensity showed a significantly negative exponential relation to the accumulation of LAI k , which agreed to the coefficient of light extinction （K）. Our results suggest that plant type regulates radiation distribution through changing LAI k . The present model would be helpful to acquire leaf distribution and judge canopy structure of rice field by computer system after a simple and less-invasive measurement of leaf length, width, angle （by photo）, and space at field with non-dilapidation of plants.

Artificial neural network models predicting the leaf area index:a case study in pure even-aged Crimean pine forests from Turkey

Background: Leaf Area Index(LAI) is an important parameter used in monitoring and modeling of forest ecosystems. The aim of this study was to evaluate performance of the artificial neural network(ANN) models to predict the LAI by comparing the regression analysis models as the classical method in these pure and even-aged Crimean pine forest stands.Methods: One hundred eight temporary sample plots were collected from Crimean pine forest stands to estimate stand parameters. Each sample plot was imaged with hemispherical photographs to detect the LAI. The partial correlation analysis was used to assess the relationships between the stand LAI values and stand parameters, and the multivariate linear regression analysis was used to predict the LAI from stand parameters. Different artificial neural network models comprising different number of neuron and transfer functions were trained and used to predict the LAI of forest stands.Results: The correlation coefficients between LAI and stand parameters(stand number of trees, basal area, the quadratic mean diameter, stand density and stand age) were significant at the level of 0.01. The stand age, number of trees, site index, and basal area were independent parameters in the most successful regression model predicted LAI values using stand parameters(R_(adj)~2=0.5431). As corresponding method to predict the interactions between the stand LAI values and stand parameters, the neural network architecture based on the RBF 4-19-1 with Gaussian activation function in hidden layer and the identity activation function in output layer performed better in predicting LAI(SSE(12.1040), MSE(0.1223), RMSE(0.3497), AIC(0.1040), BIC(-77.7310) and R^2(0.6392)) compared to the other studied techniques.Conclusion: The ANN outperformed the multivariate regression techniques in predicting LAI from stand parameters. The ANN models, developed in this study, may aid in making forest management planning in study forest stands.

DISTRIBUTION PATTERNS OF LEAF AREA INDEX FOR MAJOR CONIFEROUS FOREST TYPES IN CHINA

Leaf area index (LAI) of natural vegetation is recognized as the most important variable for measuring vegetation structure over large areas, and for relating it to energy and mass exchange, which has been successfully estimated from satellite resolution sensors. In this paper, according to the statistical analysis based on a lot of forest plots, the mathematical models of LAI distribution patterns in the hydro thermal spaces for five coniferous forest types in China were established. For the cold temperate larch forests growing in the dry and cold climate, their LAI increases with the increasing of warm index and precipitation in the way of hyperbolic quadratic surface. For the cold temperate spruce fir forests and temperate Pinus tabulaeformis forests, their LAI is negatively related to the annual mean air temperature in the way of the natural exponential curve, in order to adapt to the water oppressed environments. For the subtropical Pinus massoniana forests and Cunninghamia lanceolata forests growing in the warm and moist climate, their LAI is related to the annual mean air temperature in the way of the parabolic quadratic curve.

Estimating the crop leaf area index using hyperspectral remote sensing

The leaf area index（LAI） is an important vegetation parameter,which is used widely in many applications.Remote sensing techniques are known to be effective but inexpensive methods for estimating the LAI of crop canopies.During the last two decades,hyperspectral remote sensing has been employed increasingly for crop LAI estimation,which requires unique technical procedures compared with conventional multispectral data,such as denoising and dimension reduction.Thus,we provide a comprehensive and intensive overview of crop LAI estimation based on hyperspectral remote sensing techniques.First,we compare hyperspectral data and multispectral data by highlighting their potential and limitations in LAI estimation.Second,we categorize the approaches used for crop LAI estimation based on hyperspectral data into three types：approaches based on statistical models,physical models（i.e.,canopy reflectance models）,and hybrid inversions.We summarize and evaluate the theoretical basis and different methods employed by these approaches（e.g.,the characteristic parameters of LAI,regression methods for constructing statistical predictive models,commonly applied physical models,and inversion strategies for physical models）.Thus,numerous models and inversion strategies are organized in a clear conceptual framework.Moreover,we highlight the technical difficulties that may hinder crop LAI estimation,such as the ＂curse of dimensionality＂ and the ill-posed problem.Finally,we discuss the prospects for future research based on the previous studies described in this review.

Leaf area index based nitrogen diagnosis in irrigated lowland rice

Leaf area index （LAI） is used for crop growth monitoring in agronomic research, and is promising to diagnose the nitrogen （N） status of crops. This study was conducted to develop appropriate LAI-based N diagnostic models in irrigated lowland rice. Four field experiments were carried out in Jiangsu Province of East China from 2009 to 2014. Different N application rates and plant densities were used to generate contrasting conditions of N availability or population densities in rice. LAI was determined by LI-3000, and estimated indirectly by LAI-2000 during vegetative growth period. Group and individual plant characters （e.g., tiller number （TN） and plant height （H）） were investigated simultaneously. Two N indicators of plant N accumulation （NA） and N nutrition index （NNI） were measured as well. A calibration equation （LAI=1.7787LAI2o00-0.8816, R2=0.870＂） was developed for LAI-2000. The linear regression analysis showed a significant relationship between NA and actual LAI （R2=0.863^＊＊）. For the NNI, the relative LAI （R2=0.808-） was a relatively unbiased variable in the regression than the LAI （R^2=0.33^＊＊）. The results were used to formulate two LAI-based N diagnostic models for irrigated lowland rice （NA=29.778LAI-5.9397; NNI=0.7705RLAI＋0.2764）. Finally, a simple LAI deterministic model was developed to estimate the actual LAI using the characters of TN and H （LAI=-0.3375（THxHx0.01）2＋3.665（TH×H×0.01）-1.8249, R2=0.875＊＊）. With these models, the N status of rice can be diagnosed conveniently in the field.