Effects of vapour pressure deficit and soil water content on leaf water potential between selected provenances of Eucalyptus microtheca in an irrigated plantation, eastern Kenya.
1995
Tuomela, Kari | Kanninen, Markku | The Finnish Society of Forest Science | Suomen metsätieteellinen seura | Finlands Forstvetenskapliga Samfund
The aim of the study was to compare the behaviour of three selected provenances of Eucalyptus microtheca that were likely to response differently to drought. For this purpose, we studied the effects of vapour pressure deficit and soil water content on leaf water potential in an irrigated plantation at Bura, eastern Kenya. An international provenance trial of Eucalyptus microtheca, established as a part of Finnida-supported Bura Forestry Research Project in eastern Kenya in August 1984, was used as a plant material in the study. The eastern provenance showed generally the lowest leaf water potential on a daily basis. Statistically significant differences in the daily leaf water potential fluctuation were detected. The eastern provenance exhibited the greatest and the northern one the smallest values. The minimum daily leaf water potential of the provenances responded well to changes in gravimetric soil water content, the western provenance being the most sensitive one. The relationship of the observed results and annual rainfall distribution in the geographical regions of the studied provenances is discussed.
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