Stand‐scale transpiration of two Moso bamboo stands with different culm densities

Abstract

The large‐scale expansion of Moso bamboo forests in Japan raises concerns about how vegetation will affect the hydrological cycle and local water resources. However, information on transpiration (E) is limited to study on a single bamboo stand with low culm density (4 000 ha−1). The present study conducted a year‐round measurement of E in a high‐density (11 000 ha−1) stand using sap‐flow measurements, and additional measurements were made during summer in the previously studied low‐density stand and a neighbouring Japanese cedar stand for comparison. Annual E of the high‐density stand was estimated at 455 mm. Although the value was greater than those reported for neighbouring coniferous forests (250–370 mm), it was lower than previous measurements made in the low‐density stand (567 mm). The daytime sap flux density of the high‐density stand was generally less than half that in the low‐density stand, resulting in similar daily maximum E values in those stands. In addition, E typically peaked before midday in the high‐density stand followed by a rapid decline; the midday suppression of E led to decreased total E in the stand. Based on present and previous measurements of E, combined with the lower rainfall interception (I) reported for bamboo stands, water loss through evapotranspiration would be comparable between bamboo and coniferous forests. Present results also suggest that the E of bamboo stands does not have strong positive relationships with stand structural parameters (e.g., culm density and sapwood area) but possibly depends more on the sites' microenvironments (e.g., solar radiation). Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Contribution of lianas to community‐level canopy transpiration in a warm‐temperate forest

“…; Ichihashi et al . ; who adopted 1‐cm sensors for sap flow measurements in bamboo). Although many studies have validated the Granier's equation for a wide range of plant materials (e.g.…”

Difference between the transpiration rates of Moso bamboo (Phyllostachys pubescens) and Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) forests in a subtropical climate in Taiwan

“…We hypothesized that there is a considerable difference in annual E between Moso bamboo and Japanese cedar forests in Taiwan for two reasons. First, the difference in annual E observed in western Japan was primarily due to differences in E during months with relatively high temperatures Ichihashi et al 2015). Second, temperature is relatively high throughout the year in subtropical climates (Chiu et al 2016).…”

“…Using this method, Komatsu et al (2010) and Ichihashi et al (2015) compared the annual E of Moso bamboo forests and Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) forests in western Japan (i.e., Kyushu, Japan). Note that Japanese cedar forests are a major land cover type in the area.…”

“…Note that Japanese cedar forests are a major land cover type in the area. Both Komatsu et al (2010) and Ichihashi et al (2015) reported that the annual E of Moso bamboo forest was higher than that of Japanese cedar forests. This suggests that bamboo forest expansion could have a significant impact on terrestrial water and carbon cycles.…”

“…However, it is unclear whether such a difference in annual E between Moso bamboo and Japanese cedar forests is generally observed in other forest types. To our knowledge, no studies, other than those by Komatsu et al (2010) and Ichihashi et al (2015), have examined the difference in annual E between bamboo and other forest types. More prominently, although several studies (Mei et al 2016;Zhang et al 2017;Zhao et al 2017) compared the transpiration of other bamboo species with that of surrounding species, no study has performed such an examination in subtropical Asia on Moso bamboo, which is the most expansive and economically important bamboo species in the world (Chen et al 2009;Kuehl et al 2013).…”