Soil moisture controls on phenology and productivity in a semi-arid critical zone

Cleverly, J; Eamus, D; Restrepo Coupe, N; Chen, C; Maes, W; Li, L; Faux, R; Santini, NS; Rumman, R; Yu, Q; Huete, A

Soil moisture controls on phenology and productivity in a semi-arid critical zone

Cleverly, J

Eamus, D

Restrepo Coupe, N

Chen, C Maes, W

Li, L

Faux, R

Santini, NS

Rumman, R Yu, Q

Huete, A

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Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Science of the Total Environment, 2016, 568 pp. 1227 - 1237
Issue Date:: 2016-10-15

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Cleverly, J https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2731-7150	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Eamus, D https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2765-8040	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Restrepo Coupe, N https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3921-1772	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Chen, C	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Maes, W https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1592-9299	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Li, L https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9983-6681	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Faux, R https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9761-9832	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Santini, NS https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8319-8862	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Rumman, R	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Yu, Q https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6950-1821	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Huete, A https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2809-2376	en_US
dc.date.available	2020-05-25T19:03:01Z
dc.date.issued	2016-10-15	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	Science of the Total Environment, 2016, 568 pp. 1227 - 1237	en_US
dc.identifier.issn	0048-9697	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/43981
dc.description.abstract	© 2016 Elsevier B.V. The Earth's Critical Zone, where physical, chemical and biological systems interact, extends from the top of the canopy to the underlying bedrock. In this study, we investigated soil moisture controls on phenology and productivity of an Acacia woodland in semi-arid central Australia. Situated on an extensive sand plain with negligible runoff and drainage, the carry-over of soil moisture content (θ) in the rhizosphere enabled the delay of phenology and productivity across seasons, until conditions were favourable for transpiration of that water to prevent overheating in the canopy. Storage of soil moisture near the surface (in the top few metres) was promoted by a siliceous hardpan. Pulsed recharge of θ above the hardpan was rapid and depended upon precipitation amount: 150 mm storm− 1 resulted in saturation of θ above the hardpan (i.e., formation of a temporary, discontinuous perched aquifer above the hardpan in unconsolidated soil) and immediate carbon uptake by the vegetation. During dry and inter-storm periods, we inferred the presence of hydraulic lift from soil storage above the hardpan to the surface due to (i) regular daily drawdown of θ in the reservoir that accumulates above the hardpan in the absence of drainage and evapotranspiration; (ii) the dimorphic root distribution wherein most roots were found in dry soil near the surface, but with significant root just above the hardpan; and (iii) synchronisation of phenology amongst trees and grasses in the dry season. We propose that hydraulic redistribution provides a small amount of moisture that maintains functioning of the shallow roots during long periods when the surface soil layer was dry, thereby enabling Mulga to maintain physiological activity without diminishing phenological and physiological responses to precipitation when conditions were favourable to promote canopy cooling.	en_US
dc.relation	http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/DP130101566
dc.relation	http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/DP140102698
dc.relation	http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/
dc.relation	http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/DP140101150
dc.relation	http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/LP150100782
dc.relation.ispartof	Science of the Total Environment	en_US
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.05.142	en_US
dc.subject.classification	Environmental Sciences	en_US
dc.title	Soil moisture controls on phenology and productivity in a semi-arid critical zone	en_US
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	568	en_US
utslib.for	0602 Ecology	en_US
pubs.embargo.period	Not known	en_US
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Science
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Science/School of Life Sciences
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - CAMGIS - Centre for Advanced Modelling and Geospatial lnformation Systems
utslib.copyright.status	open_access
pubs.publication-status	Published	en_US
pubs.volume	568	en_US

Abstract:

© 2016 Elsevier B.V. The Earth's Critical Zone, where physical, chemical and biological systems interact, extends from the top of the canopy to the underlying bedrock. In this study, we investigated soil moisture controls on phenology and productivity of an Acacia woodland in semi-arid central Australia. Situated on an extensive sand plain with negligible runoff and drainage, the carry-over of soil moisture content (θ) in the rhizosphere enabled the delay of phenology and productivity across seasons, until conditions were favourable for transpiration of that water to prevent overheating in the canopy. Storage of soil moisture near the surface (in the top few metres) was promoted by a siliceous hardpan. Pulsed recharge of θ above the hardpan was rapid and depended upon precipitation amount: 150 mm storm− 1 resulted in saturation of θ above the hardpan (i.e., formation of a temporary, discontinuous perched aquifer above the hardpan in unconsolidated soil) and immediate carbon uptake by the vegetation. During dry and inter-storm periods, we inferred the presence of hydraulic lift from soil storage above the hardpan to the surface due to (i) regular daily drawdown of θ in the reservoir that accumulates above the hardpan in the absence of drainage and evapotranspiration; (ii) the dimorphic root distribution wherein most roots were found in dry soil near the surface, but with significant root just above the hardpan; and (iii) synchronisation of phenology amongst trees and grasses in the dry season. We propose that hydraulic redistribution provides a small amount of moisture that maintains functioning of the shallow roots during long periods when the surface soil layer was dry, thereby enabling Mulga to maintain physiological activity without diminishing phenological and physiological responses to precipitation when conditions were favourable to promote canopy cooling.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/43981