Projects / Programmes
Identification of tree root system and monitoring of soil water retention with labeling experiments
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 4.01.01 |
Biotechnical sciences |
Forestry, wood and paper technology |
Forest - forestry |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| B310 |
Biomedical sciences |
Physiology of vascular plants |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| 4.01 |
Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences |
Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries |
drought stress; soil water content; soil water uptake; isotope labeling methods; CO2 efflux
Researchers (1)
| no. |
Code |
Name and surname |
Research area |
Role |
Period |
No. of publicationsNo. of publications |
| 1. |
29164 |
PhD Mitja Ferlan |
Forestry, wood and paper technology |
Head |
2017 - 2019 |
0 |
Organisations (1)
| no. |
Code |
Research organisation |
City |
Registration number |
No. of publicationsNo. of publications |
| 1. |
0404 |
Slovenian Forestry Institute |
Ljubljana |
5051673000 |
0 |
Abstract
Some climate projection indicates intensive climate change for central Europe, predict increased temperatures and consequently increase in the frequency and duration of droughts, which will have crucial impact on the state of forest ecosystems. The fact that vegetation on karst grows on shallow soils which have low water retention capacity worsens the situation. Currently in some cases and even more sharply in the future will sub-Mediterranean part of Slovenia be exposed to drought conditions which will launch shifts of vegetation. There are numerous studies concerning with the water balance on the karst ecosystems, with carbonate parent soil material. In our recent study (Ferlan et al., 2016), using Eddy covariance and other micro-meteorological methods, we showed that the annual primary production of the karst ecosystem is linearly dependent on the length of the drought event and not of its intensity. Despite significant drought the karst ecosystem is able to restore the uptake of carbon to the level before the drought after only a few precipitation events. This latest research which raises few new questions have emphasis on how heterogeneous soil and environment of the rooting together with the retention capacity of the soil for water alleviate drought stress. The purpose of the proposed study is to assess how micro-location, with an emphasis on the physical properties of the parent soil material impacts the individual tree, its growth, vitality and mortality. More specifically: we will develop an innovative approach by using the labelling experiment, in order to identify the root system of adult trees on heterogeneous karst soils. Such an approach has a great potential for the non-destructive detection of the point of entry of water into the plant and thus indirectly for the detection of the root system. In further detail will be studied the ability of soil water retention, together with soil and root environment impacts on the mitigation of drought stress.
Significance for science
The proposed project intends to develop and test new, innovative and non-destructive techniques for identifying tree root systems using a portable carbon dioxide isotope analyzer with the aim to identify tree rooting environment. Furthermore, the results of the proposed project will give us insight into the rooting environment of selected tree species on karst, which could be larger than expected on the basis of current knowledge. Since the karst areas account for 13% of Earth surface, the findings of presented research project could contribute to better understanding of water balance in those areas. We expect that some trees have sufficiently extended root system in the porous limestone bedrock that is sufficient to sustain adult trees throughout the pronounced dry season.
Significance for the country
Knowledge of the rooting environment of adult trees and its strategy for water uptake can be important information for forest-management, forest policy, and forest protection activities oriented to mitigate the effects of extreme climate events. The information on soil water retention durring drought periods in karst ecosystems will contribute to the general knowledge on possible responses of ecosystems to global change. On the basis of this research it will be possible to prepare a strategy of future management of these ecosystems. The results will be important nationally (support for environmental policymakers) and globally as a new contribution to the currently very relevant research topic.
Most important scientific results
Interim report,
final report
Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results
Interim report,
final report
