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Tree root systems competing for soil moisture in a 3D soil-plant model

Publication ,  Journal Article
Manoli, G; Bonetti, S; Domec, JC; Putti, M; Katul, G; Marani, M
Published in: Advances in Water Resources
April 1, 2014

Competition for water among multiple tree rooting systems is investigated using a soil-plant model that accounts for soil moisture dynamics and root water uptake (RWU), whole plant transpiration, and leaf-level photosynthesis. The model is based on a numerical solution to the 3D Richards equation modified to account for a 3D RWU, trunk xylem, and stomatal conductances. The stomatal conductance is determined by combining a conventional biochemical demand formulation for photosynthesis with an optimization hypothesis that selects stomatal aperture so as to maximize carbon gain for a given water loss. Model results compare well with measurements of soil moisture throughout the rooting zone, of total sap flow in the trunk xylem, as well as of leaf water potential collected in a Loblolly pine forest. The model is then used to diagnose plant responses to water stress in the presence of competing rooting systems. Unsurprisingly, the overlap between rooting zones is shown to enhance soil drying. However, the 3D spatial model yielded transpiration-bulk root-zone soil moisture relations that do not deviate appreciably from their proto-typical form commonly assumed in lumped eco-hydrological models. The increased overlap among rooting systems primarily alters the timing at which the point of incipient soil moisture stress is reached by the entire soil-plant system. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd.

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Published In

Advances in Water Resources

DOI

ISSN

0309-1708

Publication Date

April 1, 2014

Volume

66

Start / End Page

32 / 42

Related Subject Headings

  • Environmental Engineering
  • 4901 Applied mathematics
  • 4005 Civil engineering
  • 3707 Hydrology
  • 0907 Environmental Engineering
  • 0905 Civil Engineering
  • 0102 Applied Mathematics
 

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Manoli, G., Bonetti, S., Domec, J. C., Putti, M., Katul, G., & Marani, M. (2014). Tree root systems competing for soil moisture in a 3D soil-plant model. Advances in Water Resources, 66, 32–42. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.advwatres.2014.01.006
Manoli, G., S. Bonetti, J. C. Domec, M. Putti, G. Katul, and M. Marani. “Tree root systems competing for soil moisture in a 3D soil-plant model.” Advances in Water Resources 66 (April 1, 2014): 32–42. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.advwatres.2014.01.006.
Manoli G, Bonetti S, Domec JC, Putti M, Katul G, Marani M. Tree root systems competing for soil moisture in a 3D soil-plant model. Advances in Water Resources. 2014 Apr 1;66:32–42.
Manoli, G., et al. “Tree root systems competing for soil moisture in a 3D soil-plant model.” Advances in Water Resources, vol. 66, Apr. 2014, pp. 32–42. Scopus, doi:10.1016/j.advwatres.2014.01.006.
Manoli G, Bonetti S, Domec JC, Putti M, Katul G, Marani M. Tree root systems competing for soil moisture in a 3D soil-plant model. Advances in Water Resources. 2014 Apr 1;66:32–42.
Journal cover image

Published In

Advances in Water Resources

DOI

ISSN

0309-1708

Publication Date

April 1, 2014

Volume

66

Start / End Page

32 / 42

Related Subject Headings

  • Environmental Engineering
  • 4901 Applied mathematics
  • 4005 Civil engineering
  • 3707 Hydrology
  • 0907 Environmental Engineering
  • 0905 Civil Engineering
  • 0102 Applied Mathematics