Evapotranspiration Partitioning of Eucalyptus benthamii and Pinus taeda During Early Stand Development

Younger, Seth E.; Jackson, C. Rhett; Dix, Mackenzie J.; Caldwell, Peter V.; Aubrey, Doug P.

doi:10.1007/s12155-023-10591-w

Evapotranspiration Partitioning of Eucalyptus benthamii and Pinus taeda During Early Stand Development

Journal Article · Thu Apr 06 00:00:00 EDT 2023 · BioEnergy Research

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/s12155-023-10591-w· OSTI ID:2228450

^[1]; ^[2]; Dix, Mackenzie J. ^[3]; ^[4]; ^[3]

University of Georgia, Athens, GA (United States); Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, Aiken, SC (United States); The Jones Center at Ichauway, Newton, GA (United States); University of Georgia Savannah River Ecology Laboratory
University of Georgia, Athens, GA (United States)
University of Georgia, Athens, GA (United States); Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, Aiken, SC (United States)
USDA Forest Service, Otto, NC (United States)

Increasing demand for bioenergy from intensively managed woody crops raises concerns of increased evapotranspiration and potential decreases in water yield. Pinus taeda (loblolly pine) is currently the most cultivated species in the southeastern USA, the country’s wood basket. However, Eucalyptus species could achieve greater productivity but with unknown ramifications for water budgets. To address the knowledge gap, we determined annual water budgets of loblolly pine and Eucalyptus benthamii (eucalypt) from growing years 3 through 5 in a replicated (n = 3) two-factor design comparing species and groundwater depth. Paired plots were established across a depth-to-groundwater gradient from shallow (~ 2 m) to deep (~ 8 m). Hydrologic budgets were constructed by measuring precipitation, interception, soil evaporation, and transpiration. Eucalypt evapotranspiration and above-ground biomass production for growing years 3 through 5 were on average 25 and 14% greater than pine, respectively; however, evapotranspiration did not differ across groundwater depths. At the end of growing year 5, eucalypt had higher transpiration and evapotranspiration per unit area than pine. Soil evaporation was substantial in young plantations (nearly 500 mm) in growing year 3 but declined as the canopy closed. Partitioning of evapotranspiration components in developing bioenergy plantations was dynamic due to canopy development driven decreases in soil evaporation and increases in transpiration and interception; total evapotranspiration was less variable from year to year. Water use efficiency (WUE, kg biomass/m³ H₂O) per unit evapotranspiration was similar between species, but WUE per unit transpiration was higher in pine. As a result, considering total evapotranspiration in young plantations can affect WUE interpretations.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, Aiken, SC (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Agriculture and Food Research Initiative; USDOE

Grant/Contract Number:: EM0003622; EM0004391; EM0005228

OSTI ID:: 2228450

Journal Information:: BioEnergy Research, Journal Name: BioEnergy Research Vol. 16; ISSN 1939-1234

Publisher:: SpringerCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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