Liquid-phase water permeation pathways on outer-bark surfaces of teak (Tectona grandis): a tropical deciduous hardwood

Abstract It has recently been suggested that processes related to water uptake from the tree-stem surface, such as water vapor exchange and rainwater permeation, have implications for forest hydrology. However, few studies have investigated stem surface water uptake itself, and the water permeation...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Hiroyuki Matsunaga, Naoko Matsuo, Takahisa Nakai, Hisashi Abe
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SpringerOpen 2024-01-01
Series:Journal of Wood Science
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s10086-023-02119-9
_version_ 1797350046489903104
author Hiroyuki Matsunaga
Naoko Matsuo
Takahisa Nakai
Hisashi Abe
author_facet Hiroyuki Matsunaga
Naoko Matsuo
Takahisa Nakai
Hisashi Abe
author_sort Hiroyuki Matsunaga
collection DOAJ
description Abstract It has recently been suggested that processes related to water uptake from the tree-stem surface, such as water vapor exchange and rainwater permeation, have implications for forest hydrology. However, few studies have investigated stem surface water uptake itself, and the water permeation pathway has not been elucidated in detail. Based on previous findings that trees with outer bark composed mainly of rhytidome have a high frequency of exfoliation and greater water uptake ability, we hypothesized that exfoliation of the outer bark is the main pathway for water uptake from the outer bark surface to the innermost periderm in these species. We tested this hypothesis in teak, a tropical deciduous hardwood with a high frequency of outer-bark exfoliation. We conducted laboratory experiments using dried bark pieces with different outer-bark shapes to evaluate the rate, amount, and pathway of liquid-phase water permeation of outer-bark surfaces. The rate and amount of water absorption differed markedly among samples. The permeation rate was correlated with the degree of outer-bark exfoliation, and water permeation was observed to begin at exfoliated surfaces. These results support our hypothesis. In addition, the increased water content of bark pieces immediately after the start of the experiment was strongly correlated with the surface roughness of the outer bark, implying that roughness may indicate the water-retention capacity of a given tree species.
first_indexed 2024-03-08T12:40:08Z
format Article
id doaj.art-2ce16176d2be4329b183469ecc3c3d3c
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1611-4663
language English
last_indexed 2024-03-08T12:40:08Z
publishDate 2024-01-01
publisher SpringerOpen
record_format Article
series Journal of Wood Science
spelling doaj.art-2ce16176d2be4329b183469ecc3c3d3c2024-01-21T12:12:22ZengSpringerOpenJournal of Wood Science1611-46632024-01-017011910.1186/s10086-023-02119-9Liquid-phase water permeation pathways on outer-bark surfaces of teak (Tectona grandis): a tropical deciduous hardwoodHiroyuki Matsunaga0Naoko Matsuo1Takahisa Nakai2Hisashi Abe3Graduate School of Bioresources, Mie UniversityGraduate School of Bioresources, Mie UniversityGraduate School of Bioresources, Mie UniversityForestry and Forest Products Research InstituteAbstract It has recently been suggested that processes related to water uptake from the tree-stem surface, such as water vapor exchange and rainwater permeation, have implications for forest hydrology. However, few studies have investigated stem surface water uptake itself, and the water permeation pathway has not been elucidated in detail. Based on previous findings that trees with outer bark composed mainly of rhytidome have a high frequency of exfoliation and greater water uptake ability, we hypothesized that exfoliation of the outer bark is the main pathway for water uptake from the outer bark surface to the innermost periderm in these species. We tested this hypothesis in teak, a tropical deciduous hardwood with a high frequency of outer-bark exfoliation. We conducted laboratory experiments using dried bark pieces with different outer-bark shapes to evaluate the rate, amount, and pathway of liquid-phase water permeation of outer-bark surfaces. The rate and amount of water absorption differed markedly among samples. The permeation rate was correlated with the degree of outer-bark exfoliation, and water permeation was observed to begin at exfoliated surfaces. These results support our hypothesis. In addition, the increased water content of bark pieces immediately after the start of the experiment was strongly correlated with the surface roughness of the outer bark, implying that roughness may indicate the water-retention capacity of a given tree species.https://doi.org/10.1186/s10086-023-02119-9BarkForest hydrologyOuter-bark shapeRainwater interceptionWater uptake
spellingShingle Hiroyuki Matsunaga
Naoko Matsuo
Takahisa Nakai
Hisashi Abe
Liquid-phase water permeation pathways on outer-bark surfaces of teak (Tectona grandis): a tropical deciduous hardwood
Journal of Wood Science
Bark
Forest hydrology
Outer-bark shape
Rainwater interception
Water uptake
title Liquid-phase water permeation pathways on outer-bark surfaces of teak (Tectona grandis): a tropical deciduous hardwood
title_full Liquid-phase water permeation pathways on outer-bark surfaces of teak (Tectona grandis): a tropical deciduous hardwood
title_fullStr Liquid-phase water permeation pathways on outer-bark surfaces of teak (Tectona grandis): a tropical deciduous hardwood
title_full_unstemmed Liquid-phase water permeation pathways on outer-bark surfaces of teak (Tectona grandis): a tropical deciduous hardwood
title_short Liquid-phase water permeation pathways on outer-bark surfaces of teak (Tectona grandis): a tropical deciduous hardwood
title_sort liquid phase water permeation pathways on outer bark surfaces of teak tectona grandis a tropical deciduous hardwood
topic Bark
Forest hydrology
Outer-bark shape
Rainwater interception
Water uptake
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s10086-023-02119-9
work_keys_str_mv AT hiroyukimatsunaga liquidphasewaterpermeationpathwaysonouterbarksurfacesofteaktectonagrandisatropicaldeciduoushardwood
AT naokomatsuo liquidphasewaterpermeationpathwaysonouterbarksurfacesofteaktectonagrandisatropicaldeciduoushardwood
AT takahisanakai liquidphasewaterpermeationpathwaysonouterbarksurfacesofteaktectonagrandisatropicaldeciduoushardwood
AT hisashiabe liquidphasewaterpermeationpathwaysonouterbarksurfacesofteaktectonagrandisatropicaldeciduoushardwood