Normally, most of us have experienced that on a clear sunny day we feel more intense radiation compared to cloudy days...right? and we prefer not to walk under direct sun beam as we will feel exhausted by overheat and sweat... Similarly, plants do prefer certain kind of radiation known as diffused radiation for better growth compared to direct radiation. So, now you might be thinking what is this direct and diffused radiation?... We know there is only one radiation that is solar radiation...what are these two?
Here comes the answer for your curiosity,
When sun's radiation pass directly to the surface without any change in direction and scattering from the atmospheric particles or clouds, then they are direct radiation. If the radiation has passed through a medium like clouds or particles or trees or so, they are diffused radiation as shown in the image.
Though plants utilize both types of radiation, under diffused radiation, plants do photosynthesis for longer time compared to direct light that increases the radiation use efficiency. So, they are happy that they take as much of diffused radiation they can that increases the photosynthesis and results in good crop production.
In some greenhouses for vegetables and flowers they use diffused glass to improve the productivity of the crop. Kindly see the video below to have an idea.
Video Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJA5QQ81pSY
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