Post-effects of long-term water drougth in Mediterranean pine stands

Abstract

Two studies were carried out on the effects of imposed water shortage in two Mediterranean pine stands growing in Southern Italy. The impact of a severe reduction in water availability on the growth of 50-year old Pinus halepensis trees (growing along the Ionian coast of Puglia, experiment 1) and 35-year-old Pinus laricio trees growing in Sila (Calabria Region, experiment 2) were studied. The experimental effects were followed for 12 months in experiment 1 and for 36 months in experiment 2, comparing covered plots and uncovered control plots. The experiment was carried out on plants of the same plots, to check if long-term water shortage caused post-effects on their growth. This research aimed to investigate what pines suffer during last years, considering the beginning of possible long-term effect on these pine forests. The results were different for the species. After treatment, the reduction of radial growth Pinus halepensis covered plants was observed, while a positive trend of growth of control trees was observed. A recovering of both covered and control Pinus laricio trees growth was observed.

Keywords

• Climate change
• Water stress
• Pinus halepensis
• Pinus laricio
• Dendrochronological analysis