Evaluation of fast growing tree water use under different soil moisture regimes using wick lysimeters

doi:10.3832/ifor0100-006

Evaluation of fast growing tree water use under different soil moisture regimes using wick lysimeters

D Mantovani^(1-2) , M Veste⁽³⁾, A Badorreck⁽²⁾, D Freese⁽²⁾

iForest - Biogeosciences and Forestry, Volume 6, Issue 4, Pages 190-200 (2013)
doi: https://doi.org/10.3832/ifor0100-006
Published: May 08, 2013 - Copyright © 2013 SISEF

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The cultivation of fast growing trees has high potential for bioenergy production on marginal lands. Information about the water use efficiency in combination with the ecophysiological response to drought stress is still incomplete. For the study of the transpiration-biomass relations satisfactory results can be obtained under controlled conditions by using lysimeters. Nonetheless, several technical problems related to the manufacturing can bias the outcome. Pan lysimeters are economical and relatively easy to assemble, however, saturation at the lower boundary can happen. On the other hand tension lysimeters, where the suction is applied by a vacuum pump, are effective but expensive and need constant maintenance. To avoid stagnancy and reduce production costs we assembled a tension controlled wick lysimeter, where the tension at the bottom layer is actively exerted by a hanging water column through the wick material (rockwool). We aim to assess the performance of the wick lysimeter coupled with an automatic irrigation system for the study of water use-yield relation black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) under different irrigation regimes. The volumetric soil content for each treatment, namely low water (LW), medium water (MW) and high water amount (HW), was maintained at 0.07, 0.14 and 0.2 m³ m^-3 respectively. During the vegetation period (161 days) the plants growing at LW reduced their water use by 60%, their leaf area by 40% and the total above ground biomass by 46%. As a result, we found a linear correlation (R² = 0.98) between the relative biomass produced and the relative water use. The calculated relative water use efficiency (RWUE) for black locust total above ground dry biomass is 0.96. Furthermore, after the harvest we evaluated the effectiveness of the lysimeter and irrigation system: the soil moisture of the treatments was kept up at the predefined values and an unsaturated condition at the boundary layer was maintained throughout the vegetation period. Because of the improved design no roots grew into the drainage extension and no unexpected change of the lysimeters hydraulic property occurred. Considering the relatively low-cost material used and the low maintenance needed, compared to other tension controlled lysimeters, wick lysimeters are effective tools for forestry studies of young trees.

Keywords

Black Locust, Soil Moisture Dynamic, Unsaturated Conditions, Hydrostatic State, Wilting Point, Relative Water Use Efficiency

Authors’ address

(1)

Brandenburg University of Technology, International Graduate School, Konrad-Wachsmann-Allee 6, D-03046 Cottbus (Germany)

(2)

Brandenburg University of Technology, Chair of Soil Protection and Recultivation, Konrad-Wachsmann-Allee 6, D-03046 Cottbus (Germany)

(3)

Centre for Energy Technology Brandenburg e.V., Friedlieb-Runge-Str. 3, D-03046 Cottbus (Germany)

Corresponding author

D Mantovani
mantdar2@gmail.com

Citation

Mantovani D, Veste M, Badorreck A, Freese D (2013). Evaluation of fast growing tree water use under different soil moisture regimes using wick lysimeters. iForest 6: 190-200. - doi: 10.3832/ifor0100-006

Academic Editor

Roberto Tognetti

Paper history

Received: May 04, 2012
Accepted: Feb 11, 2013

First online: May 08, 2013
Publication Date: Aug 01, 2013
Publication Time: 2.87 months

Open Access

This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made.

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