Impact of leaf retained water on tree transpiration

Abstract

Water retained on tree leaves after rainfall, dew, or fog impacts transpiration. To determine the impact of leaf retained water (LRW) on the transpiration of trees, the difference between transpiration rates of different species with and without water sprayed on the leaves was measured. Results show that transpiration was inhibited by LRW. Both the inhibition extent and duration of LRW were higher on broadleaf species than on coniferous species. Under conditions of saturated LRW of the tree crown, mean transpiration inhibition rates of the test species were 0.32 (Quercus mongolica Fisch. ex Ledeb.), 0.25 (Acer mono), 0.37 (Tilia amurensis Rupr.), 0.31 (Fraxinus mandshurica Rupr.), 0.22 (Pinus koraiensis Siebold & Zucc.), 0.22 (Abies nephrolepis (Trautv. ex Maxim.) Maxim.), and 0.23 (Picea asperata Mast.). Mean inhibition rate and inhibition time for broadleaf species were 0.31 and 115 min, which were 40% higher and 27 min longer than those for coniferous species, respectively. The transpiration inhibition rate of LRW increased linearly with the LRW amount, and there was a higher transpiration inhibition rate in broadleaf species than in coniferous species for the same amount of LRW. Mean rising velocity of the inhibition with LRW amount for broadleaf species was 0.53%, whereas it was only 0.15% for the coniferous species.