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Transpiration reduction and absorption of intercepted water in Leyland cypress (× Cupressocyparis leylandii) and European common oak (Quercus robur)

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Abstract

Precipitation that is intercepted by vegetation is generally considered as lost to the terrestrial hydrological cycle. However, if it is absorbed by the plants or reduces their transpiration, the intercepted water contributes positively to forest hydrology. The aim of this study was to investigate the absorption of intercepted water by a conifer and an angiosperm tree species. Pots of 2–3-year-old plants of × Cupressocyparis leylandii and Quercus robur were wrapped in plastic bags to exclude stemflow and throughfall from their water supply. Samples of both species were conditioned to two levels of aboveground wetting (sprinkled or un-sprinkled) and two levels of soil moisture (dry or moist). The periodical sprinkling with water droplets, lasting 5 h during two nights and 10 h in 1 day, ensured continuous aboveground wetting of plants during these periods. Weight changes of the plants were monitored after air drying in darkness for 3 h and wiping off any remaining surface water. Absorption of intercepted water was apparent for both species at night, when transpiration was close to zero. During the day, sprinkled plants of Q. robur had reduced rates of transpiration. For C. leylandii on dry soil sprinkling reduced water consumption during the first 24 h by 9%, while for Q. robur, the reductions were 46% and 27% for plants on dry and moist soils, respectively. These reductions in water consumption following sprinkling indicate that transpiration reduction and absorption of intercepted water deserve attention in studies of forest hydrology.

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Acknowledgements

Peter de Neergaard Simonsen inspired the initiation of experiments. The authors are indebted to Lars Graudal, Per Gundersen, Jacob Stokholm Kudsk, Henrik Skovgård and Ole Zethner for advice and critical reviews of earlier drafts. The paper was greatly improved by suggestions of the anonymous reviewers as well as by the contributions of Megan Somers.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Forestry, Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Axel Martin Jensen & Helena Mintschenko

  2. Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management, University of Copenhagen, Rolighedsvej 23, 1958, Frederiksberg, Denmark

    Anders Ræbild

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  1. Axel Martin Jensen
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  2. Helena Mintschenko
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  3. Anders Ræbild
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Correspondence to Anders Ræbild.

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Communicated by Christian Ammer.

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Jensen, A.M., Mintschenko, H. & Ræbild, A. Transpiration reduction and absorption of intercepted water in Leyland cypress (× Cupressocyparis leylandii) and European common oak (Quercus robur). Eur J Forest Res 139, 585–593 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10342-020-01271-x

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