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Whole-tree transpiration and water-use partitioning between Eucalyptus nitens and Acacia dealbata weeds in a short-rotation plantation in northeastern Tasmania
journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-18, 12:44 authored by Mark HuntMark Hunt, Christopher BeadleChristopher BeadleWhole-tree water use in 4- and 8-year-old plantations of Eucalyptus nitens Deane and Maiden (ex Maiden) in the presence and absence of Acacia dealbata Link. weeds was estimated by the heat pulse velocity technique during a six-week summer period. Maximum sap velocities were recorded between 5 and 15 mm under the cambium for both eucalypt and acacia trees, and marked radial and axial variations in sap velocity were observed. The latter source of variation was most pronounced in mixed stands where crowns were asymmetrical. Mean daily sap flux ranged from 1.4 to 103.6 l day−1 for eucalypts and from < 0.1 to 8.4 l day−1 for acacias. Stem diameter explained 98% of the variation in sapwood area for E. nitens and 89% for A. dealbata, and was determined to be a suitable parameter for scaling water use from the tree to stand level. Plot transpiration varied from 1.4 to 2.8 mm day−1 in mixed 8-year-old plots and was 0.85 mm day−1 in a mixed 4-year-old plot. The degree of A. dealbata infestation was associated with absolute plot water use and regression models predicted that, in the absence of acacia competition, plot water use for the 8-year-old stand would approach 5–6 mm day−1 during the growing season.
History
Publication title
Tree PhysiologyVolume
18Issue
8-9Pagination
557-563ISSN
0829-318XDepartment/School
School of Natural SciencesPublisher
Heron PublishingPlace of publication
202, 3994 Shelbourne St, Victoria, Canada, Bc, V8N 3E2Rights statement
Copyright 1998 Heron PublishingRepository Status
- Restricted