Evaporative losses from a common reed-dominated peachleaf willow and cottonwood riparian plant community

Authors

Isa Kabenge, Makerere University
Suat Irmak, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow

Date of this Version

2012

Citation

WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH, VOL. 48, W09513, doi:10.1029/2012WR011902, 2012

Comments

"This paper is not subject to U.S. copyright."

Abstract

Our study is one of the first to integrate and apply within-canopy radiation physics parameters and scaling-up leaf-level stomatal resistace (r_L) to canopy resistance (r_c) approach to quantify hourly transpiration (TRP) rates of individual riparian plant species—common reed (Phragmites australis), peachleaf willow (Salix amygdaloides), and cottonwood (Populus deltoides)— in a mixed riparian plant community in the Platte River Basin in central Nebraska. Two experimental years (2009 and 2010) were contrasted by warmer air temperature and presence of flood water in 2010. The seasonal average r_c values for common reed, peachleaf willow, and cottonwood in 2009 were 76, 70, and 107 s m^-1, respectively. The corresponding r_c values in the flood year (2010) were 70, 66, and 105 s m^-1 for the same species, respectively. In 2009, the seasonal total TRP for common reed, peachleaf willow, and cottonwood were 483, 522, and 431 mm, respectively. Corresponding TRP values in 2010 were greater as 550, 655, and 496 mm, respectively. In 2009, TRP accounted for 64% of ETa during June–September, and the proportion varied between 41% and 69% for most of the season. In 2010, TRP accounted for 61% of ETa during June–September, and the proportion varied between 41% and 65% for most of the season. The average surface evaporation rate of the riparian zone was 0.81 mm d^-1 in 2009 and 1.70 mm d^-1 in 2010. Seasonal evaporation was 160 mm in 2009 and 312 mm in 2010. The study provides a basis for understanding the dynamics of transpiration for riparian vegetation in response to the environmental conditions and provides valuable water use data for more complete water balance analyses by accounting for the water use of riparian vegetation species.