scholarly journals Interspecific Variability of Water Storage Capacity and Absorbability of Deadwood

Forests ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 575
Author(s):  
Anna Klamerus-Iwan ◽  
Jarosław Lasota ◽  
Ewa Błońska
Keyword(s):  
Storage Capacity ◽  
Water Storage ◽  
Abies Alba ◽  
Alnus Glutinosa ◽  
Silver Fir ◽  
Aspen Wood ◽  
Water Storage Capacity ◽  
Dead Trees ◽  
Water Absorbability ◽  
Changes Over Time

The aim of the study was to determine the water storage capacity and absorbability of deadwood of different tree species with varying degrees of decomposition. Coniferous (Silver fir—Abies alba Mill.) and deciduous (Common hornbeam—Carpinus betulus L., Common ash—Fraxinus excelsior L., Common alder—Alnus glutinosa Gaertn., and Common aspen—Populus tremula L.) species were selected for the research. The study focuses on the wood of dead trees at an advanced stage of decomposition. Deadwood samples were collected at the Czarna Rózga Nature Reserve in central Poland. Changes over time of the water absorbability and water storage capacity of deadwood were determined under laboratory conditions. The research confirmed the significance of the wood species and the degree of wood decomposition in shaping the water storage capacity and absorbability of deadwood in forest ecosystems. Fir wood was characterized by having the highest water storage capacity and water absorbability. Among deciduous species under analysis, aspen wood was characterized by having the highest water storage capacity and absorbability. Our research has confirmed that deadwood may be a significant reservoir of water in forests.

scholarly journals Vertical Variability in Bark Hydrology for Two Coniferous Tree Species

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Ilek ◽  
John T. Van Stan ◽  
Karolina Morkisz ◽  
Jarosław Kucza
Keyword(s):  
Storage Capacity ◽  
Water Storage ◽  
Abies Alba ◽  
Tree Height ◽  
Silver Fir ◽  
Atmospheric Conditions ◽  
Bark Thickness ◽  
Water Storage Capacity ◽  
Coniferous Tree Species ◽  
Canopy Water

As the outermost layer of stems and branches, bark is exposed to the influence of atmospheric conditions, i.e., to changes in the air’s relative humidity and wetting during storms. The bark is involved in water interception by tree canopies and stemflow generation, but bark–water relations are often overlooked in ecohydrological research and insufficiently understood. Relative to other canopy ecohydrological processes, little is known about vertical variation in bark properties and their effect on bark hydrology. Thus, the objective of this study was to analyze changes in physical properties (thickness, outer to total bark thickness ratio, density, and porosity) and hydrology (bark absorbability, bark water storage capacity, and hygroscopicity) vertically along stems of Norway spruce [Picea abies (L.) Karst.] and silver fir (Abies alba Mill.) trees. Our null hypotheses were that bark hydrology is constant both with tree height and across measured physical bark properties. We found that bark thickness and the ratio of outer-to-total bark thickness decreased with tree height for both species, and this was accompanied by an increase in the bark water storage capacity. In contrast, the bark’s density, porosity, and hygroscopicity remained relatively constant along stems. These results inform ecohydrological theory on water storage capacity, stemflow initiation, and the connection between the canopy water balance and organisms that colonize bark surfaces.

scholarly journals Hydrological properties of bark of selected forest tree species. Part 2: Interspecific variability of bark water storage capacity

2017 ◽  
Vol 59 (2) ◽  
pp. 110-122
Author(s):  
Anna Ilek ◽  
Jarosław Kucza ◽  
Karolina Morkisz
Keyword(s):  
Pinus Sylvestris ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Storage Capacity ◽  
Water Storage ◽  
Abies Alba ◽  
Forest Tree ◽  
Main Role ◽  
Water Storage Capacity ◽  
Forest Tree Species ◽  
Surface Development

AbstractThe subject of the present research is the water storage capacity of bark of seven forest tree species: Pinus sylvestris L., Larix decidua Mill., Abies alba Mill., Pinus sylvestris L., Quercus robur L., Betula pendula Ehrh. and Fagus sylvatica L. The aim of the research is to demonstrate differences in the formation of bark water storage capacity between species and to identify factors influencing the hydrological properties of bark. The maximum water storage capacity of bark was determined under laboratory conditions by performing a series of experiments simulating rainfall and by immersing bark samples in containers filled with water. After each single experiment, the bark samples were subjected to gravity filtration in a desiccator partially filled with water. The experiments lasted from 1084 to 1389 hours, depending on the bark sample. In all the studied species, bark sampled from the thinnest trees is characterized by the highest water storage capacity expressed in mm H2O · cm-3, while bark sampled from the thickest trees - by the lowest capacity. On the other hand, bark sampled from the thickest trees is characterized by the highest water storage capacity expressed in H2O · cm-2whereas bark from the thinnest trees - by the lowest capacity. In most species tested, as the tree thickness and thus the bark thickness and the coefficient of development of the interception surface of bark increase, the sorption properties of the bark decrease with bark depth, and the main role in water retention is played by the outer bark surface. The bark of European beech is an exception because of the smallest degree of surface development and because the dominant process is the absorption of water. When examining the hydrological properties of bark and calculating its parameters, one needs to take into account the actual surface of the bark of trees. Disregarding the actual bark surface may lead to significant errors in the interpretation of research results.

scholarly journals Laboratory model test study of the hydrological effect on granite residual soil slopes considering different vegetation types

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jie Chen ◽  
Xue-wen Lei ◽  
Han-lin Zhang ◽  
Zhi Lin ◽  
Hui Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Root System ◽  
Heavy Rainfall ◽  
Storage Capacity ◽  
Water Storage ◽  
Laboratory Model ◽  
Residual Soil ◽  
Vegetation Types ◽  
Water Storage Capacity ◽  
Granite Residual Soil ◽  
Stem Leaf

AbstractThe problems caused by the interaction between slopes and hydrologic environment in traffic civil engineering are very serious in the granite residual soil area of China, especially in Guangdong Province. Against the background of two heavy rainfall events occurring during a short period due to a typhoon making landfall twice or even two typhoons consecutively making landfall, laboratory model tests were carried out on the hydrological effects of the granite residual soil slope considering three vegetation types under artificial rainfall. The variation in slope surface runoff, soil moisture content and rain seepage over time was recorded during the tests. The results indicate that surface vegetation first effectively reduces the splash erosion impact of rainwater on slopes and then influences the slope hydrological effect through rainwater forms adjustment. (1) The exposed slope has weak resistance to two consecutive heavy rains, the degree of slope scouring and soil erosion damage will increase greatly during the second rainfall. (2) The multiple hindrances of the stem leaf of Zoysia japonica plays a leading role in regulating the hydrological effect of slope, the root system has little effect on the permeability and water storage capacity of slope soil, but improves the erosion resistance of it. (3) Both the stem leaf and root system of Nephrolepis cordifolia have important roles on the hydrological effect. The stem leaf can stabilize the infiltration of rainwater, and successfully inhibit the surface runoff under continuous secondary heavy rainfall. The root system significantly enhances the water storage capacity of the slope, and greatly increases the permeability of the slope soil in the second rainfall, which is totally different from that of the exposed and Zoysia japonica slopes. (4) Zoysia is a suitable vegetation species in terms of slope protection because of its comprehensive slope protection effect. Nephrolepis cordifolia should be cautiously planted as slope protection vegetation. Only on slopes with no stability issues should Nephrolepis cordifolia be considered to preserve soil and water.

scholarly journals Urban water storage capacity inferred from observed evapotranspiration recession

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harro Joseph Jongen ◽  
Gert-Jan Steeneveld ◽  
Jason Beringer ◽  
Andreas Christen ◽  
Krzysztof Fortuniak ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Storage Capacity ◽  
Water Storage ◽  
Urban Water ◽  
Water Storage Capacity

Urban water storage capacity inferred from observed evapotranspiration recession 

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harro Jongen ◽  
Gert-Jan Steeneveld ◽  
Jason Beringer ◽  
Krzysztof Fortuniak ◽  
Jinkyu Hong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Storage Capacity ◽  
Water Storage ◽  
Urban Water ◽  
Natural Forests ◽  
Local Climate ◽  
Water Storage Capacity ◽  
Vegetation Fraction ◽  
Local Climate Zones ◽  
Order Of Magnitude ◽  
Neighborhood Scale

<p>The amount and dynamics of urban water storage play an important role in mitigating urban flooding and heat. Assessment of the capacity of cities to store water remains challenging due to the extreme heterogeneity of the urban surface. Evapotranspiration (ET) recession after rainfall events during the period without precipitation, over which the amount of stored water gradually decreases, can provide insight on the water storage capacity of urban surfaces. Assuming ET is the only outgoing flux, the water storage capacity can be estimated based on the timescale and intercept of its recession. In this paper, we test the proposed approach to estimate the water storage capacity at neighborhood scale with latent heat flux data collected by eddy covariance flux towers in eleven contrasting urban sites with different local climate zones, vegetation cover and characteristics and background climates (Amsterdam, Arnhem, Basel, Berlin, Helsinki, Łódź, Melbourne, Mexico City, Seoul, Singapore, Vancouver). Water storage capacities ranging between 1 and 12 mm were found. These values correspond to e-folding timescales lasting from 2 to 10 days, which translate to half-lives of 1.5 to 7 days. We find ET at the start of a drydown to be positively related to vegetation fraction, and long timescales and large storage capacities to be associated with higher vegetation fractions. According to our results, urban water storage capacity is at least one order of magnitude smaller than the known water storage capacity in natural forests and grassland.</p>

scholarly journals Does Mixing Tree Species Affect Water Storage Capacity of the Forest Floor? Laboratory Test of Pine-Oak and Fir-Beech Litter Layers

Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (12) ◽  
pp. 1674
Author(s):  
Anna Ilek ◽  
Małgorzata Szostek ◽  
Anna Mikołajczyk ◽  
Marta Rajtar
Keyword(s):  
Physical Properties ◽  
Bulk Density ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Forest Floor ◽  
Storage Capacity ◽  
Water Storage ◽  
Pine Needles ◽  
Litter Layer ◽  
Water Storage Capacity ◽  
Organic Debris

During the last decade, tree species mixing has been widely supported as a silvicultural approach to reduce drought stress. However, little is known on the influence of tree species mixing on physical properties and the water storage capacity of forest soils (including the forest floor). Thus, the study aimed to analyze the effect of mixing pine needles and oak leaves and mixing fir needles and beech leaves on hydro-physical properties of the litter layer during laboratory tests. We used fir-beech and pine-oak litter containing various shares of conifer needles (i.e., 0, 5, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90 and 100%) to determine the influence of the needle admixture on bulk density, total porosity, macroporosity, water storage capacity, the amount of water stored in pores between organic debris and the degree of saturation of mixed litter compared to broadleaf litter (oak or beech). We found that the admixture of fir needles increased the bulk density of litter from 7.9% with a 5% share of needles to 55.5% with a 50% share (compared to pure beech litter), while the share of pine needles < 40% caused a decrease in bulk density by an average of 3.0–11.0% (compared to pure oak litter). Pine needles decreased the water storage capacity of litter by about 13–14% with the share of needles up to 10% and on average by 28% with the 40 and 50% shares of pine needles in the litter layer. Both conifer admixtures reduced the amount of water stored in the pores between organic debris (pine needles more than fir needles).

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