Hydraulic traits and water use of Eucalyptus on restored versus natural sites in a seasonally dry forest in southwestern Australia

Bleby, Timothy M.; Colquhoun, Ian J.; Adams, Mark A.

doi:10.1016/j.foreco.2012.02.029

Cited by 17 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 40 publications

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“…Eucalyptus , a hardwood genus that is widely planted worldwide, constitutes one of the most important timber sources for global forest biomass (Bleby, Colquhoun, & Adams, ). Owing to its economic values, fast growth rates, and favourable wood properties, and environmental benefits such as carbon sequestration (Forrester, Collopy, & Moriis, ), the global Eucalyptus plantation area has increased rapidly to approximately 20 million ha over the past two decades (Food and Agriculture Organization [FAO], ; White et al, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Stand‐scale transpiration of a Eucalyptus urophylla × Eucalyptus grandis plantation and its potential hydrological implication

et al. 2018

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Quantifying tree transpiration at a stand scale is important for understanding the hydrological impact of Eucalyptus plantations on the local water yield and water balance. In this study, we aimed to explore the seasonal and monthly changes in stand transpiration, its response to climatic factors, and hydrological impacts of a 5‐year‐old Eucalyptus urophylla × Eucalyptus grandis plantation in Guangxi Province, Southern China. Stand‐scale transpiration (Et) and potential evapotranspiration (ETo) were determined, and seasonal sensitivity of daily Et to vapour pressure deficit was analysed by using the monitored sap flux of the E. urophylla × E. grandis plantation and the associated environmental factors during a 2‐year experimental period from June 2012 to May 2014. The results showed that the monthly Et values in the wet seasons were higher than those in the dry seasons, and a temporal Et difference was observed between the 2 years of the experiment. Generally, within a whole experimental year, the highest water consumption mainly occurred from May to August, accounting for more than 40% of the annual total, and the lowest transpiration values (approximately 10 mm) mainly occurred from January to March. This monthly variation would be partly attributed to the difference of climatic factors. Clear seasonal variations were also observed for the ETo values, the Et/ETo and the Et/P (precipitation) ratios, and the dryness index (DI, ETo/P). Compared to the wet seasons, higher ETo and DI (>1) values occurred in the dry seasons. Moreover, the linear relationships between the daily stand‐scale transpiration and vapour pressure deficit for the selected months (representing spring, summer, autumn, and winter) suggest weak stomatal control of eucalypt trees. In consideration of the short rotation practices (5–7 years), the non‐conservative character of water use of eucalypt plantation, as well as the ratios of Et/ETo, Et/P, and DI, we suggested that Eucalyptus plantations in Guangxi Province might pose a potential threat to catchment water yield and management in this region. The findings of this study will assist in managing the increasing hydrological and water resource concerns related to the rapid expansion of Eucalyptus plantations in Southern China.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Stand‐scale transpiration of a Eucalyptus urophylla × Eucalyptus grandis plantation and its potential hydrological implication

et al. 2018

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“…As previously reported, long term drought may lead to increased tree mortality, and decreased productivity and forest biomass carbon sinks for natural forests ( Chaves et al, 2002 ; Zhou et al, 2013 ). Recently, planted forests have been suggested to be more vulnerable to severe environmental stress because of their weaker ecological resilience ( Bleby et al, 2012 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hydraulic Balance of a Eucalyptus urophylla Plantation in Response to Periodic Drought in Low Subtropical China

et al. 2016

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A clear understanding of hydraulic regulation in cultivated plants is crucial for addressing challenges to forest water cycling due to climate changes in low subtropical China. Experiments were conducted to determine the hydrologic balance of a Eucalyptus urophylla plantation in response to periodic drought. Trees displayed lower stomatal conductance (GS) and leaf water potentials (ΨL) during the dry periods. A decrease of 22.4% was found for the maximum reference GS (GS at D = 1 kPa; GSref-max). Accordingly, specific hydraulic conductivity (ks) decreased by 45.3 – 65.6% from the wet to the dry season, depending on the tree size. Fairly stable leaf stomatal conductance (gs) with decreasing ΨL (ΨL < -1.6 MPa) contributed to the high water-use efficiency (WUE) of this Eucalyptus species. Additionally, the lower stomatal sensitivity (-m = 0.53) in the dry season might also be responsible for the high WUE, since we found an anisohydric behavior that was associated with photosynthetically active radiation (Q0). Larger trees were found to use water more efficiently than small trees, due to the higher sensitivity of ks to decreasing ΨL. This was also verified by the decreasing leaf carbon isotope discrimination (Δ13C) with increasing tree diameter. However, further studies are needed to determine the universality of these results for other Eucalyptus species in this region.

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“…Variation in maximum tree height has profound implications for the photosynthesis, growth, crown and bole dimensions, tissue allocation, hydraulic conductance, and population density of individual trees (Givnish 1995, Ryan and Yoder 1997, McDowell et al 2011, Mencuccini et al 2011, Larjavaara 2013, stand biomass, carbon storage, and productivity (Feldpausch et al 2012, Hui et al 2012, Ruiz-Benito et al 2014, leaf area index and transpiration (Roberts et al 2001, Falster et al 2010, net input to ground and surface waters (Bleby et al 2012), and the availability of suitable habitat for certain animals (Wormington et al 2002, Garcı´a-Ferced et al 2011. Over the last three decades, several models have been advanced to account for maximum tree height and its variation with environmental conditions and plant traits.…”

Section: Introduction and Conceptual Frameworkmentioning

confidence: 99%

Determinants of maximum tree height inEucalyptusspecies along a rainfall gradient in Victoria, Australia

Givnish

Wong

Stuart‐Williams

et al. 2014

Ecology

110

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Abstract. We present a conceptual model linking dry-mass allocational allometry, hydraulic limitation, and vertical stratification of environmental conditions to patterns in vertical tree growth and tree height. Maximum tree height should increase with relative moisture supply and both should drive variation in apparent stomatal limitation. Carbon isotope discrimination (D) should not vary with maximum tree height across a moisture gradient when only hydraulic limitation or allocational allometry limit height, but increase with moisture when both hydraulic limitation and allocational allometry limit maximum tree height. We quantified tree height and D along a gradient in annual precipitation from 300 to 1600 mm from mallee to temperate rain forest in southeastern Australia; Eucalyptus on this gradient span almost the entire range of tree heights found in angiosperms worldwide. Maximum tree height showed a strong, nearly proportional relationship to the ratio of precipitation to pan evaporation. D increased with ln P/E p , suggesting that both hydraulic limitation and allocational allometry set maximum tree height. Coordinated shifts in several plant traits should result in different species having an advantage in vertical growth rate at different points along a rainfall gradient, and in maximum tree height increasing with relative moisture supply, photosynthetic rate, nutrient supply, and xylem diameter.

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Hydraulic traits and water use of Eucalyptus on restored versus natural sites in a seasonally dry forest in southwestern Australia

Cited by 17 publications

References 40 publications

Stand‐scale transpiration of a Eucalyptus urophylla × Eucalyptus grandis plantation and its potential hydrological implication

Stand‐scale transpiration of a Eucalyptus urophylla × Eucalyptus grandis plantation and its potential hydrological implication

Hydraulic Balance of a Eucalyptus urophylla Plantation in Response to Periodic Drought in Low Subtropical China

Determinants of maximum tree height inEucalyptusspecies along a rainfall gradient in Victoria, Australia

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