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Performance of two Picea abies (L.) Karst. stands at different stages of decline : III. Canopy transpiration of green trees.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Werk, KS; Oren, R; Schulze, E-D; Zimmermann, R; Meyer, J
Published in: Oecologia
September 1988

The water relations of Picea abies in a healthy stand with green trees only and a declining stand with trees showing different stages of needle yellowing were investigated in northern Bavaria. The present study is based on observations of trees differing in their nutritional status but apparently green on both sites in order to identify changes in the response pattern which might be caused by atmospheric concentrations of air pollutants and could lead to the phenomenon of decline. Transpiration was measured as water flow through the hydroactive xylem using an equilibrium mass-flow measurement system. Total tree transpiration was monitored diurnally, from July 1985 until October 1985 at both sites. The relationship between transpiration and meteorological measurements indicated that transpiration was a linear function of the vapor pressure deficit. No differences in transpiration of green trees were observed between the two sites. Canopy transpiration was 57%-68% of total throughfall and 41%-54% of total rainfall. Due to this positive water balance, soil water potential at 10 and 20 cm depths remained close to-0.02 MPa (max.-0.09 MPa) for most of the summer. Soil water potential was correlated with the difference between the weekly precipitation and transpiration. No differences in the water relations of apparently healthy trees in the two P. abies stands were observed. It is concluded that differences between green trees at the two sites in terms of nutrient relations or growth rate cannot be explained by changes in whole-tree transpiration or soil water status.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Oecologia

DOI

EISSN

1432-1939

ISSN

0029-8549

Publication Date

September 1988

Volume

76

Issue

4

Start / End Page

519 / 524

Related Subject Headings

  • Ecology
  • 3109 Zoology
  • 3104 Evolutionary biology
  • 3103 Ecology
  • 0602 Ecology
 

Citation

APA
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ICMJE
MLA
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Werk, K. S., Oren, R., Schulze, E.-D., Zimmermann, R., & Meyer, J. (1988). Performance of two Picea abies (L.) Karst. stands at different stages of decline : III. Canopy transpiration of green trees. Oecologia, 76(4), 519–524. https://doi.org/10.1007/bf00397863
Werk, K. S., R. Oren, E. -. D. Schulze, R. Zimmermann, and J. Meyer. “Performance of two Picea abies (L.) Karst. stands at different stages of decline : III. Canopy transpiration of green trees.Oecologia 76, no. 4 (September 1988): 519–24. https://doi.org/10.1007/bf00397863.
Werk KS, Oren R, Schulze E-D, Zimmermann R, Meyer J. Performance of two Picea abies (L.) Karst. stands at different stages of decline : III. Canopy transpiration of green trees. Oecologia. 1988 Sep;76(4):519–24.
Werk, K. S., et al. “Performance of two Picea abies (L.) Karst. stands at different stages of decline : III. Canopy transpiration of green trees.Oecologia, vol. 76, no. 4, Sept. 1988, pp. 519–24. Epmc, doi:10.1007/bf00397863.
Werk KS, Oren R, Schulze E-D, Zimmermann R, Meyer J. Performance of two Picea abies (L.) Karst. stands at different stages of decline : III. Canopy transpiration of green trees. Oecologia. 1988 Sep;76(4):519–524.
Journal cover image

Published In

Oecologia

DOI

EISSN

1432-1939

ISSN

0029-8549

Publication Date

September 1988

Volume

76

Issue

4

Start / End Page

519 / 524

Related Subject Headings

  • Ecology
  • 3109 Zoology
  • 3104 Evolutionary biology
  • 3103 Ecology
  • 0602 Ecology