Skip to content
Home
About Us
Resources
Profiles Metrics
Authors Directory
Institutions Directory
Top Authors
Top Institutions
Top Sponsors
AI Digest
Contact Us
Menu
Home
About Us
Resources
Profiles Metrics
Authors Directory
Institutions Directory
Top Authors
Top Institutions
Top Sponsors
AI Digest
Contact Us
Home
About Us
Resources
Profiles Metrics
Authors Directory
Institutions Directory
Top Authors
Top Institutions
Top Sponsors
AI Digest
Contact Us
Menu
Home
About Us
Resources
Profiles Metrics
Authors Directory
Institutions Directory
Top Authors
Top Institutions
Top Sponsors
AI Digest
Contact Us
Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
agricultural and biological sciences
Hydraulic redistribution by two semi-arid shrub species: Implications for Sahelian agro-ecosystems
Journal of Arid Environments, Volume 83, Year 2012
Notification
URL copied to clipboard!
Description
Hydraulic redistribution is the process of passive water movement from deeper moist soil to shallower dry soil layers using plant roots as conduits. Results from this study indicate that this phenomenon exists among two shrub species (Guiera senegalensis and Piliostigma reticulatum) that co-exist with annual food crops in Sahelian agro-ecosystems. Real-time measurements were conducted for soil water content, soil water potential and microclimate variables notably; air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, precipitation and solar irradiance. Additionally, sap flow measurements were conducted in shrub roots using the thermal dissipation technique on intact and coppiced shrubs. Monthly predawn leaf water potential was measured using a portable pressure chamber. Soil water potential (Ψ s) at the 20 cm depth declined significantly during the dry season with diel changes in Ψ s of -0.6 to -1.1 MPa. These variations were attributed to passive water release from shrub roots resulting in overnight rewetting of drier upper soil layers. Sap flow measurements on tap and lateral shrub roots indicated daily reversals in the direction of flow. During the peak of the dry season, both positive (toward shrub) and negative (toward soil) flows were observed in lateral shrub roots with sap flow in the lateral roots frequently negative at night and rapidly becoming positive soon after sunrise. The negative sap flow at night in superficial lateral roots and the periodic positive flow in the descending tap roots were indicative of hydraulic redistribution. Hydraulic redistribution may be an important mechanism for drought stress avoidance while maintaining plant physiological functions in both shrubs and neighboring annuals in water-limited environments. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd.
Authors & Co-Authors
Kizito, Fred
Ghana, Accra
International Water Management Institute Ghana
Dragila, Maria Inés
United States, Corvallis
Oregon State University
Séné, Modou
Senegal
Institut Sénégalais de Recherches Agricoles Isra/ceraas
Brooks, J. R.
United States, Research Triangle Park
Us Epa National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory
Meinzer, F. C.
United States, Washington, D.c.
Usda Forest Service
Diédhiou, Ibrahima
Senegal
Institut Sénégalais de Recherches Agricoles Isra/ceraas
Diouf, M. N.
Senegal
Institut Sénégalais de Recherches Agricoles Isra/ceraas
Lufafa, Abel
United States, Washington, D.c.
The World Bank, Usa
Dick, Richard Patrick
United States, Columbus
The Ohio State University
Selker, John S.
United States, Corvallis
Oregon State University
Cuenca, Richard H.
United States, Corvallis
Oregon State University
Statistics
Citations: 68
Authors: 11
Affiliations: 7
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1016/j.jaridenv.2012.03.010
ISSN:
01401963
e-ISSN:
1095922X
Research Areas
Environmental
Food Security