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Measurements of transpiration from Eucalyptus plantations, India, using deuterium tracing

Conference ·
OSTI ID:140039
 [1];  [2]; ; ;  [3];  [2]
  1. Inst. of Hydrology, Wallingford (United Kingdom)
  2. Karnataka Forest Dept., Bangalore (India)
  3. Mysore Paper Mills, Karnataka (India)
Measurements of transpiration from individual trees in Eucalyptus plantations at four different sites in Karnataka, southern India, are presented. These show large (as much as tenfold) differences in the transpiration between pre and post monsoon periods; a reflection of the effects of soil moisture stress in the pre monsoon periods. For trees with diameters at breast height (DBH) less than 10 cm the transpiration rate of individual trees is proportional to the square of the DBH. For trees which are not experiencing soil water stress the daily transpiration rate of individual trees, q, is well represented by the relation: q= (6.6 {+-} 0.3)g m{sup 3}d{sup {minus}1} where g (m{sup 2}) is the tree basal area. On a unit ground area basis the transpiration rate, expressed as a depth per day, is given by the relation: E{sub t}= (0.66 {+-} 0.03)G (mm d{sup {minus}1}) where G (m{sup 2} ha{sup {minus}1}) is the total basal area per hectare. For all the sites studied, although there is evidence for the mining of soil water as roots penetrate deeper depths in the soil each year, there is no evidence for direct abstraction from the watertable.
OSTI ID:
140039
Report Number(s):
CONF-9102202--; ISBN 0-471-93561-1
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English