The redistribution of soil water by tree root systems |
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Authors: | Stephen S O Burgess Mark A Adams Neil C Turner Chin K Ong |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Botany, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA 6907, Australia e-mail: sburgess@cyllene.uwa.edu.au; fax: +61-8-9380-1001, AU;(2) CSIRO Plant Industry, Private Bag, P.O., Wembley, WA 6014, Australia, AU;(3) International Centre for Research in Agroforestry (ICRAF), P.O. Box 30677, Nairobi, Kenya, KE |
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Abstract: | Plant roots transfer water between soil layers of different water potential thereby significantly affecting the distribution
and availability of water in the soil profile. We used a modification of the heat pulse method to measure sap flow in roots
of Grevillea robusta and Eucalyptus camaldulensis and demonstrated a redistribution of soil water from deeper in the profile to dry surface horizons by the root system. This
phenomenon, termed “hydraulic lift” has been reported previously. However, we also demonstrated that after the surface soils
were rewetted at the break of season, water was transported by roots from the surface to deeper soil horizons – the reverse
of the “hydraulic lift” behaviour described for other woody species. We suggest that “hydraulic redistribution” of water in
tree roots is significant in maintaining root viability, facilitating root growth in dry soils and modifying resource availability.
Received: 26 January 1998 / Accepted: 15 April 1998 |
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Keywords: | Plant roots Hydraulic lift Water use Sap flow |
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