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In a previous study (Yin et al. 2000. Annals of Botany85: 579–585), a generic logarithmic equation for leaf area index (L) in relation to canopy nitrogen content (N) was developed: L=(1/k_tn)1n(1+k_tnN/n_b). The equation has two parameters: the minimum leaf nitrogen required to support photosynthesis (n_b), and the leaf nitrogen extinction coefficient (k_tn). Relative to n_b, there is less information in the literature regarding the variation of k_tn. We therefore derived an equation to theoretically estimate the value of k_tn. The predicted profile of leaf nitrogen in a canopy using this theoretically estimated value of k_tn is slightly more uniform than the profile predicted by the optimum nitrogen distribution that maximizes canopy photosynthesis. Relative to the optimum profile, the predicted profile is somewhat closer to the observed one. Based on the L–N logarithmic equation and the theoretical k_tn value, we further quantified …