Abstract:

Single tree’s sapwood scattering style and diameter classes’diurnal water consumption rhythm were studied in a 48 years old Quercus variabilis stand at the east hill slope, located in the Forest Research Station of Beijing Forestry University in the water conservation area in Beijing (39°54′N, 116°28′E). Results showed that relation between trees sapwood area and diameter at breast height (DBH) was significant. Single-tree’s daily water consumption ascended as DBH and sapwood area increased, and related significantly. Daily water consumption of different diameter class in September ascended steeply from the early morning and got the peak around 11:00 pm, and then descended till 18:00 when it got the valley slowly. Three-dimension model of daily-accumulated water consumption was acquired by scaling-up method from the typical Richards model and characteristic parameters of daily stand water consumption course were calculated from modulated Richards equation derivative: W_ditj=(-7.147+1.174^d_i)[1-(-3025.937+d^2.175_{i)e^-0.011tj]^1/(1-d0.242i(R=0.9858).}

Key words: Quercus variabilis, Water conservation forest, Stand (Trees) water consumption, Scaling-up, Richards model, Woodland water balance