Resumen de Influence of climate and soil conditions on cork oak diameter changes. An approach based on hihg resolution point dendrometers
Javier Vázquez Piqué, Enrique Torres Álvarez, María Angeles Suárez de La Cámara, Raúl Tapias Martín, María Arantzazu González Pérez
In this work we analyse the influence of climate and soil conditions on cork oak stern growth with high resolution point dendrometers. Two experimental field plots were installed in Hinojos (Huelva, Spain) and Cortes de la Frontera (Malaga, Spain) in 2003. Inside each plot a meteorological station was installed and climate and soil variables were recorded each 15 min. Climate variables were air temperature, relative humidity, precipitation, leaf moisture, wind speed and wind direction. Soil variables were soil temperature at 30 cm depth and volumetric water content at four (Cortes de la Frontera) and five (Hinojos) different depths. Two electronic point dendrometers (extensiometric gauges with 2 pm accuracy) were attached to detect changes in diameter stern dimension in Four trees in each plot, one of them over cork and other over cambium in an attempt to separate cork from wood growth.
High resolution data showed a main spring growth and an autumn growth, with last one highly dependent on autumn precipitation, and two Cbt periods: in winter due to low temperatures and at the end of summer due to very low soil water resources. The duration of summer inactivity is highly dependent on the soil moisture level of the year A high variability in growth rates is observed between trees inside the same plot.
