Hydraulic lift and water use by plants: implications for water balance, performance and plant-plant interactions
1993
Dawson, T.E. (Cornell Univ., Ithaca, NY (USA). Section of Ecology and Systematics)
During drought periods, sugar maple (Acer saccharum) demonstrates "hydraulic lift"; nocturnal uptake of water by roots from deep soil layers that is released from shallow roots into upper soil layers. Using standard water relations methods and stable hydrogen isotope analysis of both source-water and plant-water, it was investigated (1) the magnitude and radial extent of hydraulic lift by mature, relatively open-grown trees, of A. saccharum, (2) the proportion of hydraulically-lifted water (HLW) used by shallow-rooted neighbors growing at different distances from target trees, and (3) the influence that this water source had on stomatal conductance to water vapor (g), water balance and growth of these neighbors. Soil water potentials (Psi(s)) at -20 and -35 cm showed a distinct diel fluctuation. Soil pits dug beneath three mature trees revealed a distinct hard-pan (e.g. fragipan) layer at a depth of approximately 50 cm. Examination of root distributions obtained from soil cores and soil pits revealed that some larger diameter roots (1,9-3,7 cm) did penetrate the fragipan and were established in the ground water table. The presence of the fragipan indicated that the "rewetting" of the upper soil layer during the night could not be explained by capillary rise from the shallow water table; it was the trees that were taking up ground water and then redepositing it at night into the upper 35 cm of soil, above the fragipan. The greatest fluctuations in Psi(s) occurred within 2.5 m of trees and only extended out to approximately 5 m.
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