Tree trait-mediated differences in soil moisture regimes: a comparative study of beech, spruce, and larch in a drought-prone area of Central Europe

Result code in IS VaVaI

<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F60460709%3A41330%2F24%3A97911" target="_blank" >RIV/60460709:41330/24:97911 - isvavai.cz</a>

Result on the web

<a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10342-023-01628-y" target="_blank" >https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10342-023-01628-y</a>

DOI - Digital Object Identifier

<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10342-023-01628-y" target="_blank" >10.1007/s10342-023-01628-y</a>

Result language

angličtina

Original language name

Tree trait-mediated differences in soil moisture regimes: a comparative study of beech, spruce, and larch in a drought-prone area of Central Europe

Original language description

Species-specific tree traits substantially impact precipitation partitioning, soil infiltration, retention, and overall water management. With the changing climate, the evidence of drought-induced tree mortality is increasing, indicating the need for a shift to more resilient species. Therefore, the knowledge of tree species' effect on soil-water management is needed. We used a total of 54 stations for monitoring the soil moisture regimes of silt loam soil in Central Bohemia under three common and different tree species (spruce, larch, and beech). For the dry and warm part of the year 2022, the soil moisture in winter and early spring was significantly lowered by high canopy interception and gradually depleted by early spring transpiration of evergreen spruce, where mean values were more than 15% lower than for beech. Since March, the soil moisture under spruce was already below the limit of easily available water. In contrast, the deciduous beech and larch did not show a significant decrease until the foliage emergence in early May. The beech stands showed the highest soil moisture levels, which we attributed to a more effective water recharge mechanism induced by its structural traits. This adaptive strategy is vital as soil-water storage is critical for coping with climate change. In general, the results show a distinct advantage in the water recharge ability of deciduous trees and that the selection of tree species can distinctly affect soil moisture conditions, especially during drought periods in areas characterized by tight hydrological balance.

Czech name

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Czech description

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Type

J_imp - Article in a specialist periodical, which is included in the Web of Science database

CEP classification

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OECD FORD branch

10501 - Hydrology

Project

<a href="/en/project/SS02030027" target="_blank" >SS02030027: Water systems and water management in the Czech Republic in conditions of climate change</a><br>

Continuities

P - Projekt vyzkumu a vyvoje financovany z verejnych zdroju (s odkazem do CEP)<br>S - Specificky vyzkum na vysokych skolach

Publication year

2024

Confidentiality

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů

Name of the periodical

European Journal of Forest Research

ISSN

1612-4669

e-ISSN

1612-4669

Volume of the periodical

143

Issue of the periodical within the volume

1

Country of publishing house

DE - GERMANY

Number of pages

14

Pages from-to

319-332

UT code for WoS article

001100073300002

EID of the result in the Scopus database

2-s2.0-85176240952