A stochastic radiative transfer equation for the mean field and its solutio
n for the case of discontinuous vegetation canopies is discussed in this ar
ticle. The equation set satisfies the law of energy conservation and is ame
nable to numerical solution by the method of successive orders of scatterin
g approximations. Special attention is given to analytical analysis of the
effect of spatial discontinuity on the radiation field. Research indicates
that a complete description of the radiation field in discontinuous media i
s possible, using not only average values of radiation over total space but
averages over space occupied by absorbing elements is also required. A new
formula for absorbtance, which extends the formula for a homogeneous case,
was obtained for the general case of discontinuous media. The internal as
well as the emergent radiation fields were validated using available radiat
ive transfer models (one- and three-dimensional) and Monte Carlo model of c
omputer-generated maize canopy. Additionally, the canopy reflectance simula
tion is assessed by comparisons with field data from shrublands. In all cas
es, the simulations compare well with both the Monte Carlo results and the
field data. (C) Elsevier Science Inc., 2000.