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Effect of single Quercus ilex trees upon spatial and seasonal changes in soil water content in dehesas of central western Spain

Effets de chênes verts isolés sur les variations spatiales et temporelles de l’humidité du sol dans les dehesas du centre-ouest de l’Espagne

Annals of Forest Science volume 64, pages 355–364 (2007)Cite this article

Abstract

The spatial and temporal evolution of soil water content (θ) in Quercus ilex dehesas has been investigated to determine how trees modify the soil water dynamics and the nature of tree-grass interactions in terms of soil water use in these ecosystems. Soil physical parameters and θ were measured at different distances from the tree trunk (2–30 m) in the upper 300 cm of soil. θ was measured monthly by TDR during 2002–2005. Tree water potential was determined during the summers of 2004 and 2005. At deeper soil layers, mean θ values were higher beyond than beneath tree canopy during dry periods. θ depletion beyond tree canopy continued even in summer, when herbaceous plants dried up, suggesting that trees uptake water from the whole inter-tree space. Results have shown a high dependence of trees on deep water reserves throughout late spring and summer, which helps to avoid competition for water with herbaceous vegetation.

Résumé

L’objectif de ce travail a été de déterminer les effets de chênes verts (Quercus ilex L.) isolés sur la teneur en eau du sol (θ) et la nature des interactions arbre-strate herbacée sous climat semi-aride, en terme d’utilisation de l’eau du sol dans ces écosystèmes. Les paramètres physiques du sol et θ ont été mesurés jusqu’ à 300 cm de profondeur et à différentes distances (2 à 30 m) autour des arbres. θ a été mesurée par TDR, mensuellement de 2002 à 2005 dans quatre dehesas. Le potentiel hydrique des arbres a été mesuré durant les étés 2004 et 2005. Essentiellement en profondeur et en été, les valeurs moyennes de θ furent plus élevées au-delà de la canopée que sous les arbres. La diminution de θ au-delà de la canopée des arbres a continué à diminuer encore en été lorsque les plantes herbacées étaient sèches, suggérant un prélèvement d’eau par les arbres. Nos résultats suggèrent alors que les arbres peuvent utiliser de l’eau localisée loin deux même à des distances de 20 m. et qu’ils sont très dépendants des réserves d’eau en profondeur (100–300 cm) pendant la fin du printemps et en été, ce qui contribue à diminuer la concurrence pour l’eau entre arbres et strate herbacée.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Biología y Producción de los Vegetales, Ingeniería Técnica Forestal, Universidad de Extremadura, Avenida Virgen del Puerto 2, 10600, Plasencia, Spain

    Elena Cubera & Gerardo Moreno

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  1. Elena Cubera
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  2. Gerardo Moreno
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Correspondence to Gerardo Moreno.

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Cubera, E., Moreno, G. Effect of single Quercus ilex trees upon spatial and seasonal changes in soil water content in dehesas of central western Spain. Ann. For. Sci. 64, 355–364 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1051/forest:2007012

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Annals of Forest Science

ISSN: 1297-966X