[Truncated abstract] Root-induced changes to soil hydraulic properties (SHP) are an essential component in understanding the hydrology of an ecosystem, and the resilience of these to climate change. However, at present our capacity to predict how roots will modify SHP and the consequences of this is limited because our knowledge of the processes and effects are highly fragmented. Also, current models used to investigate the relationship between plants and root-induced changes to SHP are based on empirical relationships which have limited applicability to the various and often contrasting ecosystems that occur. This thesis focuses specifically on the quantifying the processes by which roots modify SHP and developing models that can predict changes to these and the water balance. Both increase and decreases in saturated hydraulic conductivity have been attributed to the presence of roots. In general, decreases occur when the root system is relatively young, and increases occur when the roots senesce and begin to decay, creating voids for water flow. The evidence available suggests that the change in pore geometry created by roots is the dominant process by which roots modify SHP because they are more permanent and of a greater magnitude than changes to fluid properties or soil structure. We first quantified the effects of wheat roots on SHP of a coarse sand with a laboratory experiment where we measured changes in both SHP and the root system at 3, 5, 7 and 9 weeks after sowing (weeks). ... The main message that can be drawn from this thesis is that root-induced changes to SHP are dynamic, and dependent upon the combination of soil texture, connectivity of root-modified pores and the ratio of root radius to pore radius. Consequently, root-induced changes to the water balance have the same dependencies. The work in this thesis provides a significant first step towards improving our capacity to predict how roots modify soil hydraulic properties. By defining the range for the parameters used to predict how the soil is modified by roots, we are able to make quantitative assessments of how a property such as hydraulic conductivity will change for a realistic circumstance. Also , for the first time we have measured changes in soil hydraulic properties and roots and have been able to establish why a rapid change from a root-induced decrease to increase in Ks occurred. The link between physiological stage of the root system, and the changes that are likely to occur has implications for understanding how roots modify SHP: it may provide an effective tool for predicting when the switch from a decrease to increase occurs. Further work is required to test the validity of the assumptions we have made in our models that predict changes to SHP. While we have endeavoured to define the parameter space for those parameters that we have introduced, there is still some uncertainty about the connectivity of root-modified pores. Also, the parameterisation of the soil domain with roots is based upon work that measures 'fine' roots only which may not provide a true representation of the effect trees and perennial shrubs have on SHP. It is inevitable that root-induced changes to SHP will affect the fate of solutes in the soil, and temporal dynamics of root-induced changes to these may be particularly important for the timing of nutrient and pesticide leaching.

Bibliography: leaves 245-271 / xiv, 271 leaves, [47] leaves of plates : ill ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Plant Physiology, 1985

[Truncated abstract] In the most common (hydrological) viewpoint, vegetation is a

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:32:44Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2013-04-29Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T19:22:16Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 goncalves_ks_dr_botfca.pdf: 587273 bytes, checksum: d8a6b0780cc56723f26efa24e57414bc (MD5) / O eucalipto está sujeito a fatores ambientais que afetam desfavoravelmente o seu crescimento, desenvolvimento e produtividade, como condições adversas de radiação solar, temperatura e disponibilidade hídrica, sendo este último, o fator mais limitante. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar os efeitos da aplicação de reguladores vegetais e de fosfito de potássio em mudas de híbrido de Eucalyptus grandis vs. Eucalyptus urophylla submetidas à deficiência hídrica. Foram conduzidos dois experimentos, em delineamento experimental inteiramente casualisado com nove tratamentos e quatro repetições, em casa de vegetação no Núcleo de Pesquisas Avançadas em Matologia, pertencente ao Departamento de Produção Vegetal da Faculdade de Ciências Agronômicas da UNESP, localizada no município de Botucatu (SP). Cada parcela experimental foi composta por um vaso contendo 5 L de solo, no qual foi transplantada uma muda no estádio de 3 a 4 pares de folhas. Os tratamentos foram aplicados quando as plantas estavam uniformes e bem aclimatadas, via pulverização foliar, utilizando 50 mL de solução com a dose específica de cada regulador vegetal e do fosfito de potássio. A deficiência hídrica foi imposta 7 dias após a aplicação dos tratamentos, por meio da suspensão da água de irrigação. No primeiro experimento cada tratamento constituiu-se de 1000 g ha-1 do regulador vegetal (ácido salicílico (AS), metil salicilato (MeS), ácido jasmônico (AJ), metil jasmonato (MeJ), ácido dihidro jasmônico (DHJ) e metil dihidro jasmonato (MeDHJ)) e 5 L p.c. de fosfito de potássio. Foram adotados dois tratamentos testemunhas, sem aplicação de compostos, sendo um deles submetido à deficiência hídrica e o outro irrigado. No segundo experimento foram utilizados os mesmos tratamentos, com exceção dos tratamentos com AS e MeS que... / Eucalyptus is subject to environmental factors that affect negatively the plant growth, development and productivity, as adverse conditions of solar radiation, temperature and water availability, the latter being the most limiting factor. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of exogenous application of plant growth regulators and potassium phosphite in hybrids seedlings of Eucalyptus grandis vs. Eucalyptus urophylla subjected to water stress. Two experiments were conducted in completely randomized design with nine treatments and four replications in a greenhouse at Nucleus of Advanced Research in Weed Science, in the Crop Science Department of the College of Agricultural Science, UNESP, located in Botucatu, SP, Brazil. Each plot consisted of a vase containing 5 liters of soil in which a seedling was transplanted in 3-4 pairs of leaves stage. When the plants were uniform and acclimated treatments were sprayed on the leaves using 50 mL of solution with the specific dose for each plant growth regulator with the specific dose for each plant growth regulator and potassium phosphite. Water stress was imposed 7 days after treatment application, through irrigation water suspension. In the first experiment, each treatment consisted of 1000 g ha-1 of plant growth regulator (salicylic acid (AS), methyl salicylate (MeS), jasmonic acid (AJ), methyl jasmonate (MeJ), dihydro jasmonic acid (DHJ) and methyl dihydro-jasmonate (MeDHJ)) and 5 L of potassium phosphite. Two control treatments were used, without the application of compounds, one subjected to water stress and other irrigated. In the second experiment the same treatments were used, except for treatment AS and MeS, where the doses were reduced to 200 g ha-1 due to plants intoxication observed in these treatments in the first experiment. The parameters evaluated... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)

Orientador: Antônio de Pádua Sousa / Coorientador: Edivaldo Domingues Velini / Banca: João Domingos Rodrigues / Banca: Caio Carbonari / Banca: Maritane Prior / Banca: Marcelo Leonardo / Resumo: O eucalipto está sujeito a fatores ambientais que afetam desfavoravelmente o seu crescimento, desenvolvimento e produtividade, como condições adversas de radiação solar, temperatura e disponibilidade hídrica, sendo este último, o fator mais limitante. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar os efeitos da aplicação de reguladores vegetais e de fosfito de potássio em mudas de híbrido de Eucalyptus grandis vs. Eucalyptus urophylla submetidas à deficiência hídrica. Foram conduzidos dois experimentos, em delineamento experimental inteiramente casualisado com nove tratamentos e quatro repetições, em casa de vegetação no Núcleo de Pesquisas Avançadas em Matologia, pertencente ao Departamento de Produção Vegetal da Faculdade de Ciências Agronômicas da UNESP, localizada no município de Botucatu (SP). Cada parcela experimental foi composta por um vaso contendo 5 L de solo, no qual foi transplantada uma muda no estádio de 3 a 4 pares de folhas. Os tratamentos foram aplicados quando as plantas estavam uniformes e bem aclimatadas, via pulverização foliar, utilizando 50 mL de solução com a dose específica de cada regulador vegetal e do fosfito de potássio. A deficiência hídrica foi imposta 7 dias após a aplicação dos tratamentos, por meio da suspensão da água de irrigação. No primeiro experimento cada tratamento constituiu-se de 1000 g ha-1 do regulador vegetal (ácido salicílico (AS), metil salicilato (MeS), ácido jasmônico (AJ), metil jasmonato (MeJ), ácido dihidro jasmônico (DHJ) e metil dihidro jasmonato (MeDHJ)) e 5 L p.c. de fosfito de potássio. Foram adotados dois tratamentos testemunhas, sem aplicação de compostos, sendo um deles submetido à deficiência hídrica e o outro irrigado. No segundo experimento foram utilizados os mesmos tratamentos, com exceção dos tratamentos com AS e MeS que... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Eucalyptus is subject to environmental factors that affect negatively the plant growth, development and productivity, as adverse conditions of solar radiation, temperature and water availability, the latter being the most limiting factor. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of exogenous application of plant growth regulators and potassium phosphite in hybrids seedlings of Eucalyptus grandis vs. Eucalyptus urophylla subjected to water stress. Two experiments were conducted in completely randomized design with nine treatments and four replications in a greenhouse at Nucleus of Advanced Research in Weed Science, in the Crop Science Department of the College of Agricultural Science, UNESP, located in Botucatu, SP, Brazil. Each plot consisted of a vase containing 5 liters of soil in which a seedling was transplanted in 3-4 pairs of leaves stage. When the plants were uniform and acclimated treatments were sprayed on the leaves using 50 mL of solution with the specific dose for each plant growth regulator with the specific dose for each plant growth regulator and potassium phosphite. Water stress was imposed 7 days after treatment application, through irrigation water suspension. In the first experiment, each treatment consisted of 1000 g ha-1 of plant growth regulator (salicylic acid (AS), methyl salicylate (MeS), jasmonic acid (AJ), methyl jasmonate (MeJ), dihydro jasmonic acid (DHJ) and methyl dihydro-jasmonate (MeDHJ)) and 5 L of potassium phosphite. Two control treatments were used, without the application of compounds, one subjected to water stress and other irrigated. In the second experiment the same treatments were used, except for treatment AS and MeS, where the doses were reduced to 200 g ha-1 due to plants intoxication observed in these treatments in the first experiment. The parameters evaluated... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Doutor

Phenomenological models are presented which predicts transpiration rates (E) of individual leaves of Scaevola plumieri, an indigenous dune pioneer, and Ammophila arenaria, an exotic grass species introduced to stabilise mobile sand. In both cases E is predictably related to atmospheric vapour pressure deficit (VPD). VPD is calculated from measurements of ambient temperature and humidity, hence, where these two environmental variables are known, E can be calculated. Possible physiological reasons for the relationships of E to VPD in both species are discussed. Scaling from measurements of E at the leaf level to the canopy level is achieved by summing the leaf area of the canopy in question. E is predicted for the entire canopy leaf area by extrapolation to this larger leaf area. Predicted transpiration rates of individual shoot within the canopy were tested gravimetrically and shown to be accurate in the case of S. plumieri, but less so in the case of A. arenaria. Using this model, the amount of water used by a known area of sand dune is shown to be less than the rainfall input in the case of S. plumieri in wet and dry years. The water use of A. arenaria exceeds rainfall in the low-rainfall year of 1995, while in 1998 rainfall input is slightly higher than water extraction by the plants. Using a geographic information system (GIS), regional maps (surfaces) of transpiration were calculated from surfaces of mean monthly temperature and mean monthly relative humidity. Monthly surfaces of transpiration were subtracted from the monthly median rainfall to produce a surface of mean monthly water deficit. Areas of water surpluses along the coast correspond with the recorded distribution of both species in the seasons that the plants are most actively growing and reproducing. This suggests that unfavourable water availability during these two species growth periods limit their distributions along the coast. In addition to unfavourable water deficits, additional climatic variables that may be important in limiting the distribution of these two species were investigated using a discriminant function analysis.

I hypothesized that Douglas-fir trees (Pseudotsuga menziesii) standing apart from other trees ('open-grown') will intercept more rainfall than Douglas-fir trees standing near other trees ('closed-canopy'). Open-grown trees differ structurally and are more common in urban settings, yet have been infrequently studied. Existing literature, based primarily on closed-canopy trees, suggests Douglas-fir trees in Pacific Northwest forests intercept approximately 25% of rainfall annually. Because open-grown trees have more vertical leaf area than individual trees in closed-canopy forests, I expected to find higher interception by open-grown trees. I collected throughfall under four open-grown Douglas-firs using six static collectors ('buckets') per tree, and two closed-canopy Douglas-firs using six buckets per tree. I compared their throughfall to the incident rainfall in two adjacent open-field buckets. Gross interception was measured in 53 collections during rainy weather from 16Nov07 to 31Mar08. Over the same period, rainfall per hour, wind speed, gust speed, wind direction, temperature and relative humidity were collected at a weather station located within 1 km of the site. For comparison, average hourly rainfall at Portland International Airport from 1950 to 2005, for the same months of the collection period, showed a comparable number of medium- to high-intensity storms, but more low-intensity storms. I found that incident rainfall for the adjacent open-field buckets totaled 65.6cm and 71.6cm over the study period. Interception values for closed-canopy trees averaged 26%, corresponding to the literature, with results of 22 and 30%. Interception values for open-grown trees averaged 31%, with results ranging from 15 to 45%. Three of the 24 buckets returned overall negative interception rates over five months. Given the lower storm intensity of 2007-08, interception rates may be somewhat high, compared to the historical average. The negative interception rates at three buckets were likely due to their locations under high drip points, as has been observed in other studies. Considering the wide range of canopy architecture among open-grown trees, the high variability in interception was not surprising. My hypothesis was supported by the data, but requires more testing to better generalize these results. Future studies that link open grown tree canopy morphological characteristics to interception are warranted.

Call number: LD2668 .T4 1985 M444 / Master of Science

Dissertation (PhD (Bosb))--University of Stellenbosch, 2003. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study was conducted to evaluate and compare the water and nutrient relations of three indigenous deciduous tree species, viz., Cordia africana Lam., Croton macrostachyus Del., Millettia ferruginea (Hochst.) Baker and two widely planted eucalypts, viz., Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh and Eucalyptus globulus Labill from Ethiopia. The study was organized as glasshouse and field observations in Ethiopia. Owing to the lack of baseline studies on the water and nutrient relations of the deciduous tree species, the glasshouse experiments involved a wide range of water and nutrient applications. Seedlings were grown with the supply of various levels of water and nutrients during which gas exchange, water potential, relative water content, tissue nutrient content and biomass production were measured. The field observations were limited to the study of surface root distribution and leaf nutrient composition of mature trees and their effects on soil nutrient pool. The observations were made on isolated trees and mixed or pure stands of trees in Badessa area, Eastern Ethiopia. The field site was selected because of the availability of the study species and suitability of the trees for the study. In the glasshouse, increased water deficit significantly reduced predawn leaf water potential, relative water content, stomatal conductance, photosynthetic rate, whole plant water use efficiency, plant height, diameter, leaf area and biomass production. Both of the eucalypts did not grow faster than the deciduous species under well-watered conditions unlike under water stress conditions. C. macrostachyus and C. africana had higher transpiration rates and tissue nutrient accumulations than the other species. They also demonstrated higher biomass allocation to roots than all the other species to support the intensive water and nutrient uptake rate. Due to the ability to re-orient its leaves to avoid direct solar irradiance, M. ferruginea maintained higher tissue water potential and relative water content than all the other species under water stress regimes. The impact of imposed drought was quick and more damaging to the eucalypts compared to the deciduous tree species indicating that the eucalypts may not survive extreme drought conditions unlike the deciduous species that drop their leaves and may remain dormant for weeks. The current study gave new experimental proof that E. globulus was more vulnerable to drought than E. camaldulensis. Soil N stress resulted in an overall reduction of tissue N concentration, N:P ratio, photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance and photosynthetic water use efficiency in all the species studied. Pants with high foliar nitrogen concentration had higher photosynthetic capacities indicating that N plays a key role in photosynthesis and growth of all the studied species. The current study showed that for all the tree species, more attention has to be given to soil N than to P as soil P had minor effects on the photosynthetic activities of plants of all species compared to N.The investigation on tissue nutrient composition confirmed that N:P ratio could be used to detect Plimitation in plants. However, N:P ratio could not distinguish between N-limitation and combined limitations of N and P. The study of isolated C. africana and C. macrostachyus trees on soils in Badessa, Eastern Ethiopia indicated improved soil N, P and K under tree canopies whereas no effects were observed on the other soil nutrients studied. Similar to glasshouse conditions, C. macrostachyus and C. africana produced extensive surface roots, interfering with crops grown in association. Due to their high nutrient cycling potential the net effect on soil was positive. Comparison of E. camaldulensis woodlot and a mixed stand composed of deciduous species indicated that the fine root biomass in the surface soil under E. camaldulensis was about three times that under the mixed stand. The fine root biomass of E. camaldulensis inside the stand and 10 meters away from the stand were comparable in the surface soils showing the presence of root competition with adjacent crops. Therefore, planting of E. camaldulensis in association or adjacent to croplands should be avoided. Nutrient and carbon pool of soil inside the mixed stand was generally higher than that of E. camaldulensis indicating that trees of the mixed stand recycled more nutrients to the soil. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van hierdie studie was om die verskille tussen water- en voedingstofverhoudings van drie inheemse blaarwisselemde boomsoorte te vergelyk, viz., Cordia africana Lam., Croton macrostachyus Del., Millettia ferruginea (Hochst.) Baker en twee bekende eucalyptus spesies, viz., Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh en Eucalyptus globulus Labil van Etiopië. Die studie het bestaan uit kweekhuis- en veldobservasies in Etiopië. As gevolg van beperkte navorsing ten opsigte van water- en voedingstofverhoudings in bladwisselende boomsoorte, het die kweekhuis-eksperimente bestaan uit 'n wye verkeidenheid water- en voedingstoftoetse. Saailinge is gegroei deur verskillende vlakke van water- en voedingstowwe by te voeg. Gaswisseling, waterpotensiaal, relatiewe hoeveelheid water, hoeveelheid voedingstowwe en produksie van biomassa is gemeet. Die veldobservasies was beperk tot oppervlak-wortelverspreiding en blaarvoedingstof hoeveelhede van volwasse bome, sowel as die effek op grondvoedingstowwe. Observasies was beperk tot geïsoleerde, gemengde en een spesie opstande, in die Badessa area, Oos Etiopië. Die studiearea was gekies op grond van die voorkoms van die gekose boomsoorte, sowel as die toepaslikheid van die bome vir die studie. In die kweekhuis is gevind dat die verhoogte watertekort die pre-sonop blaarwaterpotensiaal, relatiewe hoeveelheid water, stomatiese geleiding, fotosintetiese tempo, heelplant water-gebruikseffektiwiteit, plant hoogte, diameter, blaararea en biomassa produksie beduidend verminder het. Nie een van die eucalyptus spesies het vinniger as die bladwisselende spesies onder voldoende hidrasie gegroei nie. Dit was egter nie die geval onder die waterbeperkte toestande nie. C. macrostachyus en C. africana het ‘n hoër transpirasie tempo sowel as weefselvoedingstof waardes gehad as die ander spesies. Hierdie boomsoorte se wortelbiomassa was ook meer as die ander spesies, om vir die tempo van water- en voedingstofopname te akkomodeer. As gevolg van die vermoë om blare te kan oriënteer om direkte sonlig te vookom, het M. ferruginea ‘n hoër water-weefselpotensiaal en relatiewe waterinname gehad in vergelyking met die ander boomsoorte in beperkte water toestande. Die impak van gëinisieerde droogte het vinnig voorgekom en het meer skade aan die eucalyptus aangerig in vergelyking met die bladwisselende boomsoorte. Dit dui aan dat die eucalyptus-spesie nie ekstreme droogte kan oorleef nie, waar bladwisselende spesies hul blare laat afval en vir weke aan een dormant kan bly. Hierdie studie gee eksperimentele bewyse dat E. globulus minder bestand is teen droogte as E. camaldulensis. Beperkte N in die grond het veroorsaak dat daar ‘n algemene vermindering van weefsel Nkonsentrasie, N:P ratio, fotosintetiese tempo, stomatiese geleiding en fotosintetiese watergebruiks effektiwiteit in al die bestudeerde spesies was. Plante wat oor hoër blaar-stikstofkonsentrasiesbeskik, het hoër fotosintetiese kapasiteite wat aandui dat N ‘n belangrike rol in fotosintese en die groei van al die bestudeerde spesies speel. Die oorhoofse bevindings van die studie was, dat daar meer aandag gegee moet word aan grond-N as P omdat grond-P net ‘n kleiner rol speel in die fotosintetiese aktiwiteite van plante van al die spesies in vergelyking met N. Die ondersoek na weefselvoedingstof hoeveelhede het bewys dat die N:P ratio gebruik kan word om P-tekorte in plante aan te dui. Die N:P ratio kan egter nie die verskil in N-tekorte en gekombineerde tekorte van N en P aandui nie. Die studie van die geïsoleerde C. africana en C. macrostachyus bome op grondtipes in Badessa, Oos Etiopië het verbeterde grond-N, P en K onder kroondak gebiede getoon, daar was egter geen verskille in die ander grondvoedingstowwe wat bestudeer is nie. In toestande gelykstaande aan die van die kweekhuis, het C. macrostachyus en C. africana meer oppervlaksswortels ontwikkel. Die toename aan oppervlakswortels het ingedring op gewasse wat in assosiasie gegroei is, dit het egter ‘n positiewe effek op die grond gehad as gevolg van die hoë voedingstof-siklus-potensiaal. Die E. camaldulensis opstand is gevergelyk met ‘n gemengde opstand van bladwisselende spesies waar daar gevind is dat die fynwortel biomassa in die oppervlak grond onder die E. camaldulensis ongeveer drie keer soveel was as die van onder die gemengde opstand. Kompetisie met aangrensende gewasse is aangeui deurdat die fynwortel biomassa van E. camaldulensis binne die opstand en 10 meter weg van die opstand vergelykbaar was in die oppervlakgronde. Dit dui dus aan dat die plant van E. camaldulensis in assosiasie of aangrensend aan gewasse vermy moet word. Die teenwoordigheid van voedingstowwe en koolstof in die grond van die gemengde opstand was oor die algemeen hoër as die van die E. camaldulensis. Dit is ‘n aanduiding dat die bome van die gemengde opstand meer voedingstowwe aan die grond verskaf.

Human activities in the past century have caused a variety of environmental problems in South Florida. In 2000, Congress authorized the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP), a $10.5-billion mission to restore the South Florida ecosystem. Environmental projects in CERP require salinity monitoring in Florida Bay to provide measures of the effects of restoration on the Everglades ecosystem. However current salinity monitoring cannot cover large areas and is costly, time-consuming, and laborintensive. The purpose of this dissertation is to model salinity, detect salinity changes, and evaluate the impact of salinity in Florida Bay using remote sensing and geospatial information sciences (GIS) techniques. The specific objectives are to: 1) examine the capability of Landsat multispectral imagery for salinity modeling and monitoring; 2) detect salinity changes by building a series of salinity maps using archived Landsat images; and 3) assess the capability of spectroscopy techniques in characterizing plant stress / canopy water content (CWC) with varying salinity, sea level rise (SLR), and nutrient levels. Geographic weighted regression (GWR) models created using the first three imagery components with atmospheric and sun glint corrections proved to be more correlated (R^2 = 0.458) to salinity data versus ordinary least squares (OLS) regression models (R^2 = 0.158) and therefore GWR was the ideal regression model for continued Florida Bay salinity assessment. J. roemerianus was also examined to assess the coastal Everglades where salinity modeling is important to the water-land interface. Multivariate greenhouse studies determined the impact of nutrients to be inconsequential but increases in salinity and sea level rise both negatively affected J. roemerianus. Field spectroscopic data was then used to ascertain correlations between CWC and reflectance spectra using spectral indices and derivative analysis. It was determined that established spectral indices (max R^2 = 0.195) and continuum removal (max R^2= 0.331) were not significantly correlated to CWC but derivative analysis showed a higher correlation (R^2 = 0.515 using the first derivative at 948.5 nm). These models can be input into future imagery to predict the salinity of the South Florida water ecosystem. / Includes bibliography. / Dissertation (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2016. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection