To ensure a reliable and unbiased comparison between the shaded and non-shaded areas I chose, a randomized sampling strategy was employed. In both study areas, I established equal-sized plots (1m x 1m) to standardize the comparison. Within each plot, five random points were selected for leaf length measurements.
The randomness of the selection was crucial to avoid any potential bias that might arise from choosing specific plants or areas that might naturally have longer or shorter leaves. By using random points in both the shaded and non-shaded areas, I ensured that the measurements would be representative of the overall conditions in each environment. This approach also helped in capturing the natural variation in leaf size within the populations of Miscanthus in both conditions.
By maintaining the same number of sampling points and equal plot sizes in both areas, the comparison between leaf lengths in the shaded and non-shaded zones remains consistent and controlled. This sampling strategy is designed to provide a clear and valid comparison of how light and moisture availability influence leaf growth.
This post should be based on virtual forests from this module.