Water-use efficiency of a mallee eucalypt growing naturally and in short-rotation coppice cultivation
This study compared mature Eucalyptus kochii subsp. plenissima trees in inner regions or edges of natural bushland to young trees belt-planted through cleared agricultural land as uncut saplings or regenerating coppice over 2.7 years at Kalannie, Western Australia (320 mm annual rainfall). We assess...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Journal Article |
| Language: | English |
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SPRINGER
2004
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| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/77909 |
| _version_ | 1848763919419572224 |
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| author | Wildy, D.T. Pate, J.S. Sefcik, Lesley |
| author_facet | Wildy, D.T. Pate, J.S. Sefcik, Lesley |
| author_sort | Wildy, D.T. |
| building | Curtin Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | This study compared mature Eucalyptus kochii subsp. plenissima trees in inner regions or edges of natural bushland to young trees belt-planted through cleared agricultural land as uncut saplings or regenerating coppice over 2.7 years at Kalannie, Western Australia (320 mm annual rainfall). We assessed the ability of the species to alter its gas exchange characteristics, leaf physical attributes, and water-use efficiency of foliar carbon assimilation (WUE i) or of total dry matter production (WUE DM). Stomatal conductance (g s) varied five-fold between treatment means, with coppices exhibiting greatest values and mature bush least. Photosynthetic rates followed this trend. Leaf photosynthetic capacity estimated by chlorophyll content varied 1.3-fold parallel with variations in leaf thickness, with coppices rating lowest and mature edge trees most highly. WUE i varied 1.5-fold between treatments and was greatest in mature inner-bush and edge trees. Leaf photosynthetic capacity and g s were both correlated with WUE i. Carbon isotope composition (δ13C values) of new shoot dry matter produced early in a seasonal flush were similar to those of root starch but when averaged over the whole season correlated well with WUE i and gas exchange characteristics of trees of each treatment. Coppices showed poorest WUE i and most negative shoot tip δ13C but their WUE DM was high. This discrepancy was suggested to relate to carbon allocation strategies in coppices favouring fast growth of replacement shoots but not of roots. Physiology of coppice growth of E. kochii is usefully geared towards both rapid and water-use efficient production of woody biomass in water limited environments. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T11:11:06Z |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | curtin-20.500.11937-77909 |
| institution | Curtin University Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T11:11:06Z |
| publishDate | 2004 |
| publisher | SPRINGER |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | curtin-20.500.11937-779092020-05-11T07:54:51Z Water-use efficiency of a mallee eucalypt growing naturally and in short-rotation coppice cultivation Wildy, D.T. Pate, J.S. Sefcik, Lesley Science & Technology Life Sciences & Biomedicine Agronomy Plant Sciences Soil Science Agriculture alley farming carbon isotope composition carbon partitioning semi-arid environment stomatal conductance starch utilization CARBON-ISOTOPE DISCRIMINATION WESTERN-AUSTRALIA GAS-EXCHANGE TRANSPIRATION EFFICIENCY C-13 DISCRIMINATION NORTHERN AUSTRALIA CAMALDULENSIS DEHN BIOMASS PRODUCTION PICEA-ABIES LEAF GROWTH This study compared mature Eucalyptus kochii subsp. plenissima trees in inner regions or edges of natural bushland to young trees belt-planted through cleared agricultural land as uncut saplings or regenerating coppice over 2.7 years at Kalannie, Western Australia (320 mm annual rainfall). We assessed the ability of the species to alter its gas exchange characteristics, leaf physical attributes, and water-use efficiency of foliar carbon assimilation (WUE i) or of total dry matter production (WUE DM). Stomatal conductance (g s) varied five-fold between treatment means, with coppices exhibiting greatest values and mature bush least. Photosynthetic rates followed this trend. Leaf photosynthetic capacity estimated by chlorophyll content varied 1.3-fold parallel with variations in leaf thickness, with coppices rating lowest and mature edge trees most highly. WUE i varied 1.5-fold between treatments and was greatest in mature inner-bush and edge trees. Leaf photosynthetic capacity and g s were both correlated with WUE i. Carbon isotope composition (δ13C values) of new shoot dry matter produced early in a seasonal flush were similar to those of root starch but when averaged over the whole season correlated well with WUE i and gas exchange characteristics of trees of each treatment. Coppices showed poorest WUE i and most negative shoot tip δ13C but their WUE DM was high. This discrepancy was suggested to relate to carbon allocation strategies in coppices favouring fast growth of replacement shoots but not of roots. Physiology of coppice growth of E. kochii is usefully geared towards both rapid and water-use efficient production of woody biomass in water limited environments. 2004 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/77909 10.1023/B:PLSO.0000037030.61945.0d English SPRINGER restricted |
| spellingShingle | Science & Technology Life Sciences & Biomedicine Agronomy Plant Sciences Soil Science Agriculture alley farming carbon isotope composition carbon partitioning semi-arid environment stomatal conductance starch utilization CARBON-ISOTOPE DISCRIMINATION WESTERN-AUSTRALIA GAS-EXCHANGE TRANSPIRATION EFFICIENCY C-13 DISCRIMINATION NORTHERN AUSTRALIA CAMALDULENSIS DEHN BIOMASS PRODUCTION PICEA-ABIES LEAF GROWTH Wildy, D.T. Pate, J.S. Sefcik, Lesley Water-use efficiency of a mallee eucalypt growing naturally and in short-rotation coppice cultivation |
| title | Water-use efficiency of a mallee eucalypt growing naturally and in short-rotation coppice cultivation |
| title_full | Water-use efficiency of a mallee eucalypt growing naturally and in short-rotation coppice cultivation |
| title_fullStr | Water-use efficiency of a mallee eucalypt growing naturally and in short-rotation coppice cultivation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Water-use efficiency of a mallee eucalypt growing naturally and in short-rotation coppice cultivation |
| title_short | Water-use efficiency of a mallee eucalypt growing naturally and in short-rotation coppice cultivation |
| title_sort | water-use efficiency of a mallee eucalypt growing naturally and in short-rotation coppice cultivation |
| topic | Science & Technology Life Sciences & Biomedicine Agronomy Plant Sciences Soil Science Agriculture alley farming carbon isotope composition carbon partitioning semi-arid environment stomatal conductance starch utilization CARBON-ISOTOPE DISCRIMINATION WESTERN-AUSTRALIA GAS-EXCHANGE TRANSPIRATION EFFICIENCY C-13 DISCRIMINATION NORTHERN AUSTRALIA CAMALDULENSIS DEHN BIOMASS PRODUCTION PICEA-ABIES LEAF GROWTH |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/77909 |