The incident light can reach the plant as “direct” radiation (waves moving parallel to one another) or
as “diffused” radiation (in which the light waves are moving along trajectories which are at various
angles with respect to one another and to a horizontal plane)
A diffused film has an advantage over a clear film. Diffused light does not allow the shadow
formation of the top layers of leaves to prevent essential light from reaching the lower leaves. The
end result is a facilitation of an effective dispersion of total light to the darker areas inside the plant
volume enhancing photosynthesis and hence the production of biomass.
Under a clear film the top layer of the plant canopy is receiving the lion’s share of the essential
photosynthetic radiation. The inner leaves are almost not functioning as far as photosynthesis is
concerned. In addition to losing potential biomass due to inactivity of the inner leaves of the plant, it
also sheds these inactive leaves.If you want to observe this phenomenon walk into a forest and see
the emptiness below the top canopy