SUMMARY An alternative procedure to determine the leaf área índex (LAI) of beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) plants based on its correlation with the degree of soil coverage (SC) by plants canopy was studied. The detemnined functional relation of the type y = ax + bx² + cx³, showed a determination coefficient (r²) of 0,9423 which indicates a good statistical relation the studied variables.
leaf área index; plant canopy; soil cover; beans
