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Hydraulic redistribution in a Douglas-fir forest: lessons from system manipulations.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Brooks, JR; Meinzer, FC; Warren, JM; Domec, J-C; Coulombe, R
Published in: Plant, cell & environment
January 2006

Hydraulic redistribution (HR) occurs in many ecosystems; however, key questions remain about its consequences at the ecosystem level. The objectives of the present study were to quantify seasonal variation in HR and its driving force, and to manipulate the soil-root system to elucidate physiological components controlling HR and utilization of redistributed water. In the upper soil layer of a young Douglas-fir forest, HR was negligible in early summer, but increased to 0.17 mm day(-1) (20-60 cm layer) by late August when soil water potential was approximately -1 MPa. When maximum HR rates were observed, redistributed water replenished approximately 40% of the water depleted from the upper soil on a daily basis. Manipulations to the soil or to the soil/plant water potential driving force altered the rate of observed HR indicating that the rate of HR is controlled by a complex interplay between competing soil and plant water potential gradients and pathway resistances. Separating roots from the transpiring tree resulted in increased HR, and sap flow measurements on connected and disconnected roots showed reversal of water flow, a prerequisite for HR. Irrigating a small plot with deuterated water demonstrated that redistributed water was taken up by small understorey plants as far as 5 m from the watering source, and potentially further, but the utilization pattern was patchy. HR in the upper soil layers near the watering plot was twice that of the control HR. This increase in HR also increased the amount of water utilized by plants from the upper soil. These results indicate that the seasonal timing and magnitude of HR was strongly governed by the development of water potential differences within the soil, and the competing demand for water by the above ground portion of the tree.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Plant, cell & environment

DOI

EISSN

1365-3040

ISSN

0140-7791

Publication Date

January 2006

Volume

29

Issue

1

Start / End Page

138 / 150

Related Subject Headings

  • Water
  • Trees
  • Time Factors
  • Soil
  • Seasons
  • Pseudotsuga
  • Plant Biology & Botany
  • Ecosystem
  • Deuterium
  • Circadian Rhythm
 

Citation

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ICMJE
MLA
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Brooks, J. R., Meinzer, F. C., Warren, J. M., Domec, J.-C., & Coulombe, R. (2006). Hydraulic redistribution in a Douglas-fir forest: lessons from system manipulations. Plant, Cell & Environment, 29(1), 138–150. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-3040.2005.01409.x
Brooks, J Renée, Frederick C. Meinzer, Jeffery M. Warren, Jean-Christophe Domec, and Rob Coulombe. “Hydraulic redistribution in a Douglas-fir forest: lessons from system manipulations.Plant, Cell & Environment 29, no. 1 (January 2006): 138–50. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-3040.2005.01409.x.
Brooks JR, Meinzer FC, Warren JM, Domec J-C, Coulombe R. Hydraulic redistribution in a Douglas-fir forest: lessons from system manipulations. Plant, cell & environment. 2006 Jan;29(1):138–50.
Brooks, J. Renée, et al. “Hydraulic redistribution in a Douglas-fir forest: lessons from system manipulations.Plant, Cell & Environment, vol. 29, no. 1, Jan. 2006, pp. 138–50. Epmc, doi:10.1111/j.1365-3040.2005.01409.x.
Brooks JR, Meinzer FC, Warren JM, Domec J-C, Coulombe R. Hydraulic redistribution in a Douglas-fir forest: lessons from system manipulations. Plant, cell & environment. 2006 Jan;29(1):138–150.
Journal cover image

Published In

Plant, cell & environment

DOI

EISSN

1365-3040

ISSN

0140-7791

Publication Date

January 2006

Volume

29

Issue

1

Start / End Page

138 / 150

Related Subject Headings

  • Water
  • Trees
  • Time Factors
  • Soil
  • Seasons
  • Pseudotsuga
  • Plant Biology & Botany
  • Ecosystem
  • Deuterium
  • Circadian Rhythm