Scholarly record
DENDROMETRIC MEASUREMENTS AS AN INDICATOR OF WATER STRESS
Abstract
It is important to gain a better understanding regarding the effect of frequent drought stress on biochemical and physiological processes in plants as well as on the plant population and community in ecosystem. One method of early detection and monitoring of water stress is by measuring the diameter changes of the stem using dendrometers. They can be used to determine not only the annual thickness growth, but also the distribution of the growth and the rate of expansion and shrinkage of the wood and bark during the year, which reflects the fluctuation of the water stock in the batch. Thus, the growth and physiological response of the trees to seasonal climatic conditions can be identified. For this measurement were used Dendrometers DD-S from Ecomatic at apple trees stems. The measurements were continuously during summer months in 2018 in Nitra region, Slovakia on irrigated and non-irrigated trees. Values were compared with rainfalls and air temperature. Also, we investigated two physiological concepts: the linear growth concept, assuming linear growth, versus the zero-growth concept, assuming no growth during periods of stem shrinkage. The difference between irrigated and non-irrigated apple trees was 0.3 mm, with increases mainly in the evening and morning hours. When comparing the concept of linear growth and zero-growth, the zero-growth concept was more accurate, which can be used during measurements to see the course of growth or water stress. The results show the best timing for the irrigation dose in real time, which save amount of water for irrigation.
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