Water use of co-occurring loblolly (Pinus taeda) and shortleaf (Pinus echinata) in a loblolly pine plantation in the Piedmont
Measuring water use in co-occurring loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) and shortleaf pine (Pinus echinata Mill.) enhances our understanding of their competitive water use and aids in refining watershed water budget model parameters. This study was conducted in a 12-ha forested headwater catchment in the Piedmont of North Carolina, southeastern U.S., from 2018 to 2019 (pre-thinning) to 2020 (post-thinning). Sap flux density (Js), species-level transpiration (Ts), and watershed-level transpiration (Tw) were quantified. Water use efficiency (WUE) in loblolly and shortleaf pines was compared, alongside an investigation into how both species' Js and Ts responded to atmospheric vapor pressure deficit (VPD). Loblolly pine had 19%–36% higher Js than shortleaf pine. Daily Ts for loblolly pine ranged from 15.0 to 29.0 L/day while Ts in shortleaf pine ranged from 3.0 to 6.8 L/day. The Ts was significantly higher in loblolly pine when compared to shortleaf pine likely due to higher canopy position and higher growth rates of the former. WUE, defined by annual tree biomass growth per tree water use, was not significantly different between the two. Daily Js and Ts in both species responded nonlinearly to VPD, with loblolly pine being more sensitive and variable. Species-specific water use should be considered when quantifying Tw and developing reliable models to predict the effects of forest management practices on water resources.
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Related Subject Headings
- Environmental Engineering
- 40 Engineering
- 37 Earth sciences
- 0907 Environmental Engineering
- 0905 Civil Engineering
- 0406 Physical Geography and Environmental Geoscience
Citation
Published In
DOI
EISSN
ISSN
Publication Date
Volume
Issue
Start / End Page
Related Subject Headings
- Environmental Engineering
- 40 Engineering
- 37 Earth sciences
- 0907 Environmental Engineering
- 0905 Civil Engineering
- 0406 Physical Geography and Environmental Geoscience