Publication Details

Category Data Publication
DOI 10.5281/zenodo.10564735
Licence creative commons licence
Title (Primary) Root water uptake, May-July 2019, Hainich, Germany, project AquaDiva [Data set]
Author Demir, G.; Hildebrandt, A.
Source Titel Zenodo
Year 2024
Department CHS
Language englisch
Topic T5 Future Landscapes
Abstract Root water uptake depends on soil moisture which is primarily fed by throughfall in forests. Several biotic and abiotic elements shape the spatial distribution of throughfall. It is well documented that throughfall patterns result in reoccurring higher and lower water inputs at certain locations. However, how the spatial distribution of throughfall affects root water uptake patterns remains unresolved. Therefore, we investigate root water uptake patterns by considering spatial patterns of throughfall and soil water in addition to soil and neighboring tree characteristics. In a beech-dominated mixed deciduous forest in a temperate climate, we conducted intensive throughfall sampling at locations paired with soil moisture sensors during the 2019 growing season. We employed a linear mixed-effects model to understand controlling factors in root water uptake patterns. Our results show that soil water patterns and interactions among neighboring trees are the most significant factors regulating root water uptake patterns. Temporally stable throughfall patterns did not influence root water uptake patterns. Similarly, soil properties were unimportant for spatial patterns of root water uptake. We found that wetter locations (rarely associated with throughfall hotspots) promoted greater root water uptake. Root water uptake in monitored soil layers also increased with neighborhood species richness. Ultimately our findings suggest that complementarity mechanisms within the forest stand, in addition to soil water variability and availability, govern root water uptake patterns.
linked UFZ text publications
Persistent UFZ Identifier https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=29416
Demir, G., Hildebrandt, A. (2024):
Root water uptake, May-July 2019, Hainich, Germany, project AquaDiva [Data set]
Zenodo 10.5281/zenodo.10564735