Dawn water potential and root depth of trees and understorey species in south-western Australia [jarrah forest; Eucalyptus marginata]
1988
Crombie, D.S. | Tippett, J.T. | Hill, T.C. (Western Australian Dept. of Conservation and Land Management, Como)
Water relations of selected tree and understorey species in the jarrah forest of south-western Australia were studied during summer drought and the results related to root morphology. Seasonal patterns of predawn water potential (PWP) differed between species according to root depth and between sites according to average annual rainfall. Dawn water potentials fell most rapidly and by the greatest amount in plants with the shallowest roots. Dawn water potentials of medium and deep rooted species were not consistently different. Separation of PWP between sites of different annual rainfall was less marked than was separation by root depth. Changes in PWP were consistent with a top-to-bottom drying of the soil profiles. The results suggest that measurements of PWP of plants of appropriate root depth can be used to monitor the drying of soils as an alternative to more expensive mechanical and electrical methods.
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