Drought effects on canopy properties and productivity in thinned and unthinned Turkey oak stands

ABSTRACT

Drought responses, leaf area index (LAI), leaf characteristics and light extinction coefficient (k) were analysed in thinned and unthinned Turkey oak (Quercus cerris L.) stands at two sites: Valsavignone, in the Apennines, with a mild climate, and Caselli, near the Tyrrhenian coast, with a longer and more accentuated dry period in the summer. Turkey oak showed a good adaptability to drought due to a series of modifications in leaf characteristics, canopy properties and biomass allocation such as leaf area reduction, increased leaf thickness, smaller number of leaves and, at stand level, lower LAI, leaf biomass and LWR values and higher light extinction coefficients. In spite of the better environmental conditions and the higher LAI values, productivity was lower in the wet site. The differences in Turkey oak canopy properties, light extinction coefficients, LAI and their relations with drought and productivity are discussed.