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Manipulating phenology and water relations in Senna spectabilis in a water limited environment in Kenya

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Abstract

The effect of shoot pruning on leaf phenology, stem wood anatomy and sap flow was investigated on Senna spectabilis (DC.) Irwin and Barneby in Machakos, Kenya. Unpruned trees (single stem) were compared to hedges (two to four stems), pruned 4 times a year during two rainy seasons (April–June, 1997 and November, 1997–January, 1998) separated by a dry season (July–October 1997). Trees attained peak leaf area of 55 m2 plant−1 during the rainy seasons, and shed all their leaves naturally during the dry season. Maximum hedge leaf area was 4 m2 plant−1 between pruning events and 5.2 m2 plant−1 during the dry season. Pruning induced multiple stems and narrow xylem vessels with low hydraulic conductivity. Average cross sectional area of conducting wood per plant was at least 1.8 times greater in trees than in hedges. Xylem lumen diameter at 5 mm depth below the cambium was significantly (P < 0.001) larger in trees (53.6 ± 6.21 μm) than that in hedges (36.2 ± 8.21 μm). Maximum sap flow occurred in the wet season for trees (4800 g d−1 plant−1) and in the dry season for hedges (1400 g d−1 plant−1). Wet season pruning suppressed crown expansion and modified the natural phenology of senna, reducing transpiration rate and therefore soil water depletion, causing crowns to grow. This enhanced the ecological combining ability of senna managed as hedges with annual crops.

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Acknowledgements

S. Namirembe is indebted to NORAD for the financial support of this work through Makerere University Faculty of Forestry and Nature Conservation. Mr. Ahmed Khan provided invaluable technical support with installation and interpretation of data from heat pulse gauges. Special thanks to all the field technicians at the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) Machakos station, especially to Sammy Kyalo and Bernard Mbulu for their dedicated help during data collection (1997–1998).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Katoomba Group/Forest Trends, Uganda Carbon Bureau, P.O. Box 70480, Kampala, Uganda

    Sara Namirembe

  2. School of the Environment and Natural Resources, College of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, LL57 2UW, UK

    Robert M. Brook

  3. World Agroforestry Centre, Nairobi, Kenya

    Chin K. Ong

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  1. Sara Namirembe
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  2. Robert M. Brook
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  3. Chin K. Ong
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Correspondence to Sara Namirembe.

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Namirembe, S., Brook, R.M. & Ong, C.K. Manipulating phenology and water relations in Senna spectabilis in a water limited environment in Kenya. Agroforest Syst 75, 197–210 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10457-008-9169-7

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