Characteristics of stomatal diffusion resistance in a Douglas fir forest exposed to soil water deficits

摘要: As part of a 2-year study of the effect of thinning on evapotranspiration in Douglas fir (Pseudotsugamenziesii (Mirb.) Franco), the relationship between stomatal diffusion resistance (rs) and environmental variables were studied. Research was conducted in an unthinned stand (1840 stems ha−1) with negligible undergrowth and a thinned stand (840 stems ha−1) with substantial salal (Gaultheriashallon Pursh) undergrowth. During the daytime rs was mainly related to the soil water potential (ψs) and the vapour pressure deficit (v.p.d.) of the canopy air. Daytime values of rs for Douglas fir ranged from 2 to 60 s cm−1 for values of v.p.d. between 4 and 24 mb (4 and 24 × 102 Pa) and values of ψs between 0 and −12.5 bars (0 and −12.5 × 105 Pa). Although increasing rs was usually associated with decreasing pressure potential of the twig xylem (ψt), increasing rs appeared to be associated with increasing ψt when the v.p.d. was high. Stress history was found to cause a shift in the relationship of rs to ψt, but had little effect on the relationship of rs to v.p.d. and ψs. Daytime values of rs for salal ranged from 2 to 45 s cm−1. This stomatal behaviour suggests that as the soil dried out, salal transpiration accounted for an increasing fraction of the total water loss by the thinned stand.