Photosynthetic rate (Pn) of plants is simultaneously affected by photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) and maximum yield of primary photochemistry (Fv/Fm). In order to explore the quantitative relationship between Pn, PAR and Fv/Fm, those parameters were simultaneously measured for different plant species (maize, sunflower, daylily and alfalfa), growth stages and irrigation treatments. Results indicated that the diurnal variation of Pn had no significant correlation with that of Fv/Fm. Mean diurnal values of Pn were linearly correlated with those of Fv/Fm among the different irrigation treatments of alfalfa (p < 0.05), but this linear correlation was not observed among the different species. There was a positive relationship between Pn and Fv/Fm only at midday (12:00 and 14:00) (p < 0.01). A significant linear relationship was observed between the diurnal variation of Pn and PAR × Fv/Fm (p < 0.05), this law was suitable for the different species, and the different growth stages and the different irrigation treatments of the same species. This study confirms that Pn is significantly related to the photochemical energy (PAR × Fv/Fm), the light energy directly used in photochemical reactions of plants.
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