Estimation of Water Use of Landscape Trees    (View PDF)

A.J. Vrecenak and L.P. Herrington

Abstract: The use of a computer model of transpiration from individual tree crowns is discussed as it relates to the reciprocal effects of plants on the environment and the environment on plants. The model is shown to be useful in estimating a plant's contribution to local energy budgets as well as its water use under various environmental conditions. Model estimates of hourly transpiration rates for containergrown sugar maple (Acer saccharum) and Norway maple (Acer platanoides) saplings ranged from 6.8 g/m2/hr to 55.5 g/m2/hr, while lysimetric determinations ranged from 10.4 g/m2/hr to 63.4 g/m2/hr over a range of soil moisture conditions. The significant contribution of latent heat transfer via transpiration to the overall tree energy budget is shown by the model results as well. The model results, its areas of weakness and further research needs are discussed.

Keywords:

https://doi.org/10.48044/jauf.1984.068