Preprint Article Version 1 Preserved in Portico This version is not peer-reviewed

Transpiration Dynamics of Esparto Grass (Stipa tenacissima L.) in Semi-Arid Mediterranean Climate: Unraveling the Impacts of Soil Water, Pine Competence, and Bush Maturity

Iván Pérez-Anta
,
Eva Rubio
ORCID logo ,
Francisco Ramón López-Serrano
ORCID logo ,
Diego Garcés
,
Manuela Andrés
ORCID logo ,
Marta Picazo
ORCID logo ,
Wafa Chebbi
ORCID logo ,
Rocío Arquero
,
Francisco Antonio García-Morote
* ORCID logo
Version 1 : Received: 19 January 2024 / Approved: 19 January 2024 / Online: 19 January 2024 (14:04:11 CET)

A peer-reviewed article of this Preprint also exists.

Pérez-Anta, I.; Rubio, E.; López-Serrano, F.R.; Garcés, D.; Andrés-Abellán, M.; Picazo, M.; Chebbi, W.; Arquero, R.; García-Morote, F.A. Transpiration Dynamics of Esparto Grass (Macrochloa tenacissima (L.) Kunth) in a Semi-Arid Mediterranean Climate: Unraveling the Impacts of Pine Competition. Plants 2024, 13, 661. Pérez-Anta, I.; Rubio, E.; López-Serrano, F.R.; Garcés, D.; Andrés-Abellán, M.; Picazo, M.; Chebbi, W.; Arquero, R.; García-Morote, F.A. Transpiration Dynamics of Esparto Grass (Macrochloa tenacissima (L.) Kunth) in a Semi-Arid Mediterranean Climate: Unraveling the Impacts of Pine Competition. Plants 2024, 13, 661.

Abstract

Stipa tenacissima (S. tenacissima), or esparto, is a perennial tussock grass that coexists with Pinus halepensis (P. halepensis) in semi-arid mediterranean woodlands. This research was carried out to explore diurnal transpiration at leaf level in esparto grass under different levels of pine-esparto competition and in contrasting environmental conditions of soil water. The measurements were spanned from the summer 2020 to spring 2021. The relationship between transpiration and competence was conducted in open and closed P. halepensis stands and taken into account the type of leave (green, senescent) and the maturity of the esparto grass. We observed a higher control of transpiration in green leaves, and correlations between transpiration and soil water were noted exclusively in this type of leaf. Our results substantiated a significant impact of pine competitors on transpiration of esparto grass, particularly during seasons characterized by high water-demand scenarios: the summer drought period and the commencement of the growing and flowering period (spring). Furthermore, our findings confirmed a greater response to transpiration in mature bushes compared to young ones under severe water stress, denoting higher adaptation to drought as esparto ages. Our results may have important implications for the dynamics and management of these semi-arid mixed woodlands, as well as the planning of reforestation programs aimed at restoring esparto grass steppes.

Keywords

Alpha-grass; Water exchange; Pine competence; Semi-arid woodlands; Leaf senescence

Subject

Biology and Life Sciences, Forestry

Copyright: This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

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