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Effects of aspen canopy removal and root trenching on understory microenvironment and soil moisture

Effects of aspen canopy removal and root trenching on understory microenvironment and soil moisture Effects of three aspen ( Populus tremuloides Michx.) canopy removal treatments and root trenching on understory microenvironment and moisture were tested at Parkland and Boreal sites in Alberta, Canada. Aspen canopies moderated air temperature by reducing maximums and increasing minimums, and increased the frost-free period in the understory by reducing radiative frosts. When daily differences were found among canopy treatments, maximum absolute humidity was greater with complete canopy removal. Maximum daily relative humidity was greater in openings at night than with either full or partial canopy cover. Predictably, increasing aspen cover reduced PAR reaching the understory. Soil moisture response was highly variable, changing with site, aspen density and precipitation patterns, but there were only marginal differences due to root trenching. In the Parkland site, soil moisture conservation from aspen canopy and leaf litter effects were masked by tree uptake in most periods, but a net increase in soil water (+5.2%) was observed during drought. Soil and microclimatic conditions in thinned aspen stands suggest potentially favourable production benefits from developing and adopting agroforestry systems in these northern ecosystems. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Agroforestry Systems Springer Journals

Effects of aspen canopy removal and root trenching on understory microenvironment and soil moisture

Agroforestry Systems , Volume 70 (2) – Jun 1, 2007

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References (17)

Publisher
Springer Journals
Copyright
Copyright © 2007 by Springer Science+Business Media, Inc.
Subject
Life Sciences; Agriculture; Forestry
ISSN
0167-4366
eISSN
1572-9680
DOI
10.1007/s10457-007-9051-z
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Effects of three aspen ( Populus tremuloides Michx.) canopy removal treatments and root trenching on understory microenvironment and moisture were tested at Parkland and Boreal sites in Alberta, Canada. Aspen canopies moderated air temperature by reducing maximums and increasing minimums, and increased the frost-free period in the understory by reducing radiative frosts. When daily differences were found among canopy treatments, maximum absolute humidity was greater with complete canopy removal. Maximum daily relative humidity was greater in openings at night than with either full or partial canopy cover. Predictably, increasing aspen cover reduced PAR reaching the understory. Soil moisture response was highly variable, changing with site, aspen density and precipitation patterns, but there were only marginal differences due to root trenching. In the Parkland site, soil moisture conservation from aspen canopy and leaf litter effects were masked by tree uptake in most periods, but a net increase in soil water (+5.2%) was observed during drought. Soil and microclimatic conditions in thinned aspen stands suggest potentially favourable production benefits from developing and adopting agroforestry systems in these northern ecosystems.

Journal

Agroforestry SystemsSpringer Journals

Published: Jun 1, 2007

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