Disturbances in water relations of European beech during an extreme drought

By Marianne Peiffer On 17 September 2014 In Research paper

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Marianne PEIFFER, Nathalie BRÉDA, Vincent BADEAU, André GRANIER

 
INRA, UMR 1137 Ecologie et Ecophysiologie Forestières, 54280 Champenoux, France

Visit the Annals of Forest Science Website to download the paper

In the context of a probable increase in intensity and frequency of extreme summer drought events, a better understanding of the key processes involved in water relations is needed to improve the theoretical foundations of predictive process-based models.

This paper aims to analyse how temperate deciduous trees cope with water shortage. The exceptional summer drought of 2003 in Europe provided an opportunity to monitor stomatal conductance and twig water potential in European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) at predawn and midday and to analyse variations with respect to leaf height within the canopy. By comparing our field measurements of twig water potential to values found in the literature, we confirmed the strong impact of soil water shortage on crown water relations.

This paper shows that (1) the vertical gradient of stomatal conductance within the crown disappeared under extreme soil water depletion; (2) at maximum drought intensity, predawn twig water potential (ψpd) reached −2.3 MPa at a height of 14 m in the crown and −2.0 MPa at a height of 10 m. The significant differences in ψpd between the two measurement heights in the canopy may be due to night transpiration; (3) there was a close relationship between predawn twig water potential and relative extractable soil water; (4) as drought conditions intensified, there was a close relationship between canopy radiation interception and predawn water potential, as estimated daily from relative extractable soil water.

Keywords

Fagus sylvatica, Stomatal conductance, Leaf water potential, Soil water deficit, Crown position, Seasonal pattern

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