Area Measurement of Mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa) Leaves by Using Leaf- Length Measurements

Abstract

In mesquite, Prosopis glandulosa var. glandulosa (Torr.) Cockr., which has a doubly pinnate leaf, a log-log relationship was found to exist between the sum of the lengths of the rachises of each leaf and the total surface area of the leaf. Regression analysis using complete and incomplete leaves from small and large trees indicates that the log of the sum of the lengths of the rachises and the log of the total leaf area produced a linear correlation coefficient of .96. The relationship holds for complete and incomplete leaves and for a large range of leaf sizes from a variety of growing conditions.