ABSTRACT


Rafael Novoa S-A.1
 

Many researchers have studied photosynthesis as a process that will determine primary productivity. In this paper the author illustrates the principIes envolved and reviews those publications that givea bet ter understanding, according to his own judgement, of the effects of the essential climatic elements (radiation, temperature, humidity andwind) on the photosynthetie phenomena.
Starting with the relation: Net Photosynthesis = Crude Photosynthesis-Respiration, each term is analyzed in detail, reviewing the work of several researchers, and concluding that it is reasonable to estimate the potential productivity of plants from the study ofthe effect oí the climatic factors on photosynthesis.

Keywords:
1Ing. Agr., Centro Suelos y Riego, Estación Experimental La Platina, Instituto de Investigaciones Agropecuarias (INIA), Casilla 5427, Santiago, Chile.