The directional reflectance factor distribution spanning the entire exitance hemisphere was measured for a cotton row crop ( 39 per cent ground cover) as a function of the solar azimuth and zenith angles. Two spectral bands NOAA 7 AVHRR bands 1 ( 0.57-0.69 μ ) and 2 (0.71-0.99 μ ) were measured. Ancillary data consisted of leaf orientation distribution measurements, structural and agronomic measurements, as well as optical measurements of leaves and soil. Polar co-ordinate system plots of directional reflectance factor distributions and three-dimensional computer graphic plots of scattered flux were created from the radiometric data. These plots were used to study the dynamics of the directional reflectance factor distribution as a function of spectral band, geometric structure of the scene, solar zenith and azimuth angles and optical properties of the leaves and soil