diff --git a/biogeochem/EDPhysiologyMod.F90 b/biogeochem/EDPhysiologyMod.F90
index c4ccb4f7e6..3a58ad19ad 100644
--- a/biogeochem/EDPhysiologyMod.F90
+++ b/biogeochem/EDPhysiologyMod.F90
@@ -186,6 +186,7 @@ subroutine trim_canopy( currentSite )
     real(r8) :: vai			! leaf and stem area in this layer
     real(r8) :: kn			! nitrogen decay coefficient
     real(r8) :: sla_max     ! Observational constraint on how large sla (m2/gC) can become
+    real(r8) :: tai_to_lai ! ratio of total area index (ie. sai + lai) to lai for individual tree
 
     !----------------------------------------------------------------------
 
@@ -226,19 +227,27 @@ subroutine trim_canopy( currentSite )
 
           ! Observational constraint for maximum sla value (m2/gC):
           ! m2/gC = m2/gBiomass *kgC/kgBiomass 
-          sla_max = sla_max_drymass * EDPftvarcon_inst%c2b(ipft) 
+          sla_max = sla_max_drymass * EDPftvarcon_inst%c2b(ipft)
+	  ! Ratio of total area index (ie. lai + sai) to lai for individual tree:
+          tai_to_lai = 1.0_r8 + EDPftvarcon_inst%allom_sai_scaler(ipft)
 
           !Leaf cost vs netuptake for each leaf layer. 
           do z = 1,nlevleaf
 
              ! Vegetation area index
-             vai = (currentPatch%elai_profile(cl,ipft,z)+currentPatch%esai_profile(cl,ipft,z))  
-             if (z == 1) then
-                laican = laican + 0.5_r8 * vai
-             else
-                laican = laican + 0.5_r8 * (currentPatch%elai_profile(cl,ipft,z-1)+ &
-                     currentPatch%esai_profile(cl,ipft,z-1)+vai)
-             end if           
+             vai = (currentPatch%elai_profile(cl,ipft,z)+currentPatch%esai_profile(cl,ipft,z))
+	     if (vai > 0.0_r8) then
+             ! If there is vai in this leaf layer, add to laican
+	        if (z == 1) then
+		   ! If in first layer, add laican equal to laican value halfway through the layer
+                   laican = laican + 0.5_r8 * tai_to_lai * dinc_ed
+                else
+		   ! Since starting from halfway through first layer when z=1, 
+		   ! can add an entire dinc_ed to remain at halfway value for subsequent layers 
+                   laican = laican + tai_to_lai * dinc_ed
+                end if
+	     else ! If vai = 0, do not add to laican
+	     end if 
              
              if (currentCohort%year_net_uptake(z) /= 999._r8)then !there was activity this year in this leaf layer.