Skip to main content

Advertisement

Springer Nature Link
Log in

Predawn disequilibrium between soil and plant water potentials in light of climate trends predicted for northern Europe

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Regional Environmental Change Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The study was performed on coppice shoots and 9-year-old saplings of hybrid aspen (Populus tremula L. × Populus tremuloides Michx.) growing at the Free Air Humidity Manipulation site in 2013 and 2014. The main aims of our study were to determine the differences in water potentials between soil and leaves before dawn and the major environmental factors preventing the overnight equilibration of water potential. Secondly, we investigated the impact of increasing relative air humidity—a climate trend predicted for northern Europe—on the equilibration. A relatively small predawn disequilibrium (PDD) was recorded both for coppice shoots and saplings: on average 0.042 and 0.066 MPa, respectively. We found a significant correlation between PDD and the vapour pressure deficit of ambient air (R 2 = 0.80 and 0.66, respectively). The experiment with bagged leaves revealed that 76% (coppice shoots) and 47% (saplings) of the PDD are attributable to nocturnal transpiration. In coppice shoots, the magnitude of PDD is best explained by soil water availability. After cool and moist nights, when leaves were usually dew-wetted, the PDD was close to zero, supporting the idea of foliar uptake of water through the cuticle. After drier nights, predawn leaf water potential does not represent a reliable estimate of soil water potential even in moderately humid climates. Increasing atmospheric humidity does not affect the magnitude of PDD in hybrid aspen. However, the stomata of hybrid aspen remain open at night, which enables nocturnal transpiration and water loss from the foliage.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

Explore related subjects

Discover the latest articles and news from researchers in related subjects, suggested using machine learning.

References

  • Berry ZC, Hughes NM, Smith WK (2014) Cloud immersion: an important water source for spruce and fir saplings in the southern Appalachian Mountains. Oecologia 174:319–329. doi:10.1007/s00442-013-2770-0

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bolton D (1980) The computation of equivalent potential temperature. Mon Weather Rev 108:1046–1053

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Boyer JS (1995) Measuring the water status of plants and soils. Academic, San Diego, p 178

    Google Scholar 

  • Breda N, Granier A, Barataud F, Moyne C (1995) Soil water dynamics in an oak stand. I. Soil moisture, water potentials and water uptake by roots. Plant Soil 172:29–43. doi:10.1007/BF00020856

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Breshears DD, McDowell NG, Goddard KL, Dayem KE, Martens SN, Meyer CW, Brown KM (2008) Foliar absorption of intercepted rainfall improves woody plant water status most during drought. Ecology 89:41–47. doi:10.1890/07-0437.1

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bucci SJ, Scholz FG, Goldstein G, Meinzer FC, Hinojosa JA, Hoffman WA, Franco AC (2004) Processes preventing nocturnal equilibration between leaf and soil water potential in tropical savanna woody species. Tree Physiol 24:1119–1127. doi:10.1093/treephys/24.10.1119

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bucci SJ, Goldstein G, Meinzer FC, Franco AC, Campanello P, Scholz FG (2005) Mechanisms contributing to seasonal homeostasis of minimum leaf water potential and predawn disequilibrium between soil and plant water potential in Neotropical savanna trees. Trees 19:296–304. doi:10.1007/s00468-004-0391-2

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Burgess SSO, Dawson TE (2004) The contribution of fog to the water relations of Sequoia semprevirens (D. Don): foliar uptake and prevention of dehydration. Plant Cell Environ 27:1023–1034. doi:10.1111/j.1365-3040.2004.01207.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Burkhardt J, Basi S, Pariyar S, Hunsche M (2012) Stomatal penetration by aqueous solutions—an update involving leaf surface particles. New Phytol 196:774–787. doi:10.1111/j.1469-8137.2012.04307.x

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Caird MA, Richards JA, Donovan LA (2007) Nighttime nocturnal conductance and transpiration in C3 and C4 plants. Plant Physiol 143:4–10. doi:10.1104/pp.106.092940

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cavender-Bares J, Sack L, Savage J (2007) Atmospheric and soil drought reduce nocturnal conductance in live oaks. Tree Physiol 27:611–620. doi:10.1093/treephys/27.4.611

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cirelli D, Equiza MA, Lieffers VJ, Tyree MT (2015) Populus species from diverse habitats maintain high night-time conductance under drought. Tree Physiol. doi:10.1093/treephys/tpv092

  • Daley MJ, Phillips NG (2006) Interspecific variation in nighttime transpiration and stomatal conductance in a mixed New England deciduous forest. Tree Physiol 26:411–419. doi:10.1093/treephys/26.4.411

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Donovan LA, Ehleringer JR (1994) Water stress and use of summer precipitation in a Great Basin shrub community. Funct Ecol 8:289–297. doi:10.2307/2389821

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Donovan LA, Grise DJ, West JB, Pappert RA, Alder NN, Richards JH (1999) Predawn disequilibrium between plant and soil water potentials in two cold-desert shrub species. Oecologia 120:209–217. doi:10.1007/s004420050850

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Donovan LA, Linton MJ, Richars JH (2001) Predawn plant water potential does not necessarily equilibrate with soil water potential under well-watered conditions. Oecologia 129:328–325. doi:10.1007/s004420100738

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Donovan LA, Richards JH, Linton MJ (2003) Magnitude and mechanisms of disequilibrium between predawn plant and soil water potentials. Ecology 84:463–470. doi:10.1890/0012-9658(2003)084[0463:MAMODB]2.0.CO;2

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eller CB, Lima AL, Oliveira RS (2013) Foliar uptake of fog water and transport belowground alleviates drought effects in the cloud forest tree species, Drimys brasiliensis (Winteraceae). New Phytol 199:151–162. doi:10.1111/nph.12248

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fanourakis D, Carvalho SMP, Almeida DPF, Heuvelink E (2011) Avoiding high relative air humidity during critical stages of leaf ontogeny is decisive for stomatal functioning. Physiol Plant 142:274–286. doi:10.1111/j.1399-3054.2011.01475.x

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Goldsmith GR (2013) Changing directions: the atmosphere–plant–soil continuum. New Phytol 199:4–6. doi:10.1111/nph.12332

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Goldsmith GR, Matzek NJ, Dawson DE (2013) The incidence and implications of clouds for cloud forest plant water relations. Ecol Lett 16:307–314. doi:10.1111/ele.12039

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Holbrook MN, Burns MJ, Field CB (1995) Negative xylem pressure in plants: a test of the balancing pressure technique. Science 270:1193–1194. doi:10.1126/science.270.5239.1193

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • IPCC (2013) Climate change 2013: the physical science basis. In: Stocker TF, Qin D, Plattner G-K, Tignor MMB, Allen SK, Boschung J, Nauels A, Xia Y, Bex V, Midgley PM (eds) Contribution of working group I to the fifth assessment report of the intergovernmental panel on climate change. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • Kavanagh KL, Pangle R, Shotzko AD (2007) Nocturnal transpiration causing disequilibrium between soil and stem predawn water potential in mixed conifer forests in Idaho. Tree Physiol 27:621–629. doi:10.1093/treephys/27.4.621

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kont A, Jaagus J, Aunap R (2003) Climate change scenarios and the effect of sea-level rise for Estonia. Glob Planet Chang 36:1–15. doi:10.1016/S0921-8181(02)00149-2

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kupper P, Sõber J, Sellin A, Lõhmus K, Tullus A, Räim O, Lubenets K, Tulva I, Uri V, Zobel M, Kull O, Sõber A (2011) An experimental facility for free air humidification manipulation (FAHM) can alter water flux through deciduous tree canopy. Environ Exp Bot 72:432–438. doi:10.1016/j.envexpbot.2010.09.003

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kupper P, Rohula G, Saksing L, Sellin A, Lõhmus K, Ostonen I, Helmisaari H-S, Sõber A (2012) Does soil nutrient availability influence night-time water flux for aspen saplings? Environ Exp Bot 82:37–42. doi:10.1016/j.envexpbot.2012.03.013

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li S, Xiao H-L, Zhao L, Zhou M-X, Wang F (2014) Foliar water uptake of Tamarix ramosissima from an atmosphere of high humidity. Sci World J 2014:529308. doi:10.1155/2014/529308

    Google Scholar 

  • Limm EB, Simonin KA, Bothman AG, Dawson TE (2009) Foliar water uptake: a common water acquisition strategy for plants of the redwood forest. Oecologia 161:449–459. doi:10.1007/s00442-009-1400-3

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marks CO, Lechowitcz MJ (2007) The ecological and functional correlates of nocturnal transpiration. Tree Physiol 27:577–584. doi:10.1093/treephys/27.4.577

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nejad AR, van Meeteren U (2005) Stomatal response characteristics of Tradescantia virginiana grown at high relative air humidity. Physiol Plant 125:324–332. doi:10.1111/j.1399-3054.2005.00567.x

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Niglas A, Kupper P, Tullus A, Sellin A (2014) Responses of sap flow, leaf gas exchange and growth of hybrid aspen to elevated atmospheric humidity under field conditions. AoB PLANTS 6:plu021. doi:10.1093/aobpla/plu021

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Niglas A, Alber M, Suur K, Jasińska AK, Kupper P, Sellin A (2015) Does increased air humidity affect stomatal morphology and functioning in hybrid aspen? Botany 93:243–250. doi:10.1139/cjb-2015-0004

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ourcival J-M, Berger A (1995) Equilibrium between soil water potential and predawn water potential of two pre-saharan shrub species in Tunisia. J Arid Environ 30:175–183. doi:10.1016/S0140-1963(05)80068-0

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Palmer AR, Fuentes S, Taylor D, Macinnis-Ng C, Zeppel M, Yunusa I, February E, Eamus D (2008) The use of pre-dawn leaf water potential and MODIS LAI to explore seasonal trends in the phenology of Australian and southern African woodlands and savannas. Aust J Bot 56:557–563. doi:10.1071/BT08079

  • Reich PB (1984) Loss of stomatal function in ageing hybrid poplar leaves. Ann Bot 53:691–698

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reich PB, Borchert R (1988) Changes in leaf age in stomatal function and water status of several tropical tree species. Biotropica 20:60–69. doi:10.2307/2388427

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Richter H (1997) Water relation of plants in the field: some comments on the measurement of selected parameters. J Exp Bot 48:1–7. doi:10.1093/jxb/48.1.1

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rogiers SY, Greer DH, Hatfield JM, Hutton RJ, Clarke SJ, Hutchinson PA, Somers A (2012) Stomatal response of an anisohydric grapevine cultivar to evaporative demand, available soil moisture and abscisic acid. Tree Physiol 32:249–261. doi:10.1093/treephys/tpr131

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Samuelson LJ, Pell CJ, Stokes TA, Bartkowiak SM, Akers MK, Kane M, Markewitz D, McGuire MA, Teskey RO (2014) Two-year throughfall and fertilization effects on leaf physiology and growth of loblolly pine in the Georgia Piedmont. For Ecol Manag 330:29–37. doi:10.1016/j.foreco.2014.06.030

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Scholz FG, Bucci SJ, Goldstein G, Meinzer FC, Franco AC, Miralles-Wilhelm F (2007) Removal of nutrient limitation by long-term fertilization decreases nocturnal water loss in savanna trees. Tree Physiol 27:551–559. doi:10.1093/treephys/27.4.551

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Scholz FG, Bucci SJ, Goldstein G (2014) Strong hydraulic segmentation and leaf senescence due to dehydration may trigger die-back in Nothofagus dombeyi under severe droughts: a comparison with the co-occurring Austrocedrus chilensis. Trees 28:1475–1487. doi:10.1007/s00468-014-1050-x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sellin A (1993) Resistance to water flow in xylem of Picea abies (L.) karst. Trees grown under contrasting light conditions. Trees 7:220–226. doi:10.1007/BF00202077

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sellin A (1996) Base water potential of Picea abies as a characteristic of the soil water status. Plant Soil 184:273–280. doi:10.1007/BF00010456

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sellin A (1999) Does pre-dawn water potential reflect conditions of equilibrium in plant and soil water status? Acta Oecol 20:51–59. doi:10.1016/S1146-609X(99)80015-0

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sellin A, Lubenets K (2010) Variation of transpiration within a canopy of silver birch: effect of canopy position and daily versus nightly water loss. Ecohydrology 3:467–477. doi:10.1002/eco.133

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sellin A, Eensalu E, Niglas A (2010) Is distribution of hydraulic constraints within tree crowns reflected in photosynthetic water-use efficiency? An example of Betula pendula. Ecol Res 25:173–183. doi:10.1007/s11284-009-0641-2

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sellin A, Tullus A, Niglas A, Õunapuu E, Karusion A, Lõhmus K (2013) Humidity-driven changes in growth rate, photosynthetic capacity, hydraulic properties and other functional traits in silver birch (Betula pendula). Ecol Res 28:523–535. doi:10.1007/s11284-013-1041-1

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sellin A, Niglas A, Õunapuu-Pikas E, Kupper P (2014) Rapid and long-term effects of water deficit on gas exchange and hydraulic conductance of silver birch trees grown under varying atmospheric humidity. BMC Plant Biol 14:72–83. doi:10.1186/1471-2229-14-72

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sellin A, Rosenvald K, Õunapuu-Pikas E, Tullus A, Ostonen I, Lõhmus K (2015) Elevated air humidity affects hydraulic traits and tree size but not biomass allocation in young silver birches (Betula pendula). Front Plant Sci 6:860. doi:10.3389/fpls.2015.00860

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sellin A, Alber M, Keinänen M, Kupper P, Lihavainen J, Lõhmus K, Oksanen E, Sõber A, Sõber J, Tullus A (2017) Growth of northern deciduous trees under increasing atmospheric humidity: possible mechanisms behind the growth retardation. Reg Environ Chang. doi:10.1007/s10113-016-1042-z

  • Simonin KA, Santiago LS, Dawson TE (2009) Fog interception by Sequoia sempervirens (D. Don) crowns decouples physiology from soil water deficit. Plant Cell Environ 32:882–892. doi:10.1007/s11284-013-1041-1

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tyree MT, Ewers FW (1991) The hydraulic architecture of trees and other woody plants. New Phytol 119:345–360. doi:10.1111/j.1469-8137.1991.tb00035.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yates DJ, Hutley LB (1995) Foliar uptake of water by wet leaves of Sloanea wollsii, an Australian subtropical rainforest tree. Aust J Bot 43:157–167. doi:10.1071/BT9950157

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zeppel MJB, Lewis JD, Phillips NG, Tissue DT (2014) Consequences of nocturnal water loss: a synthesis of regulating factors and implications for capacitance, embolism and use in models. Tree Physiol 34:1047–1055. doi:10.1093/treephys/tpu089

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhu LW, Zhao P, Wang Q, Ni GY, Niu JF, Zhao XH, Zhang ZZ, Zhao PQ, Gao JG, Huang YQ, Gu DX, Zhang ZF (2015) Stomatal and hydraulic conductance and water use in a eucalypt plantation in Guangxi, Southern China. Agric For Meteorol 202:61–68. doi:10.1016/j.agrformet.2014.12.003

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the Estonian Ministry of Education and Research (Institutional Research Funding IUT34-9) and by the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund (Centre of Excellence in Environmental Adaptation). We are grateful to Jaak Sõber for operating the FAHM humidification system and Ilmar Part for language revision.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Lai 40, 51005, Tartu, Estonia

    Ott Kangur, Priit Kupper & Arne Sellin

Authors
  1. Ott Kangur
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Priit Kupper
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Arne Sellin
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ott Kangur.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Kangur, O., Kupper, P. & Sellin, A. Predawn disequilibrium between soil and plant water potentials in light of climate trends predicted for northern Europe. Reg Environ Change 17, 2159–2168 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10113-017-1183-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10113-017-1183-8

Keywords