Hygroscopic properties of thin dead outer bark layers strongly influence stem diameter variations on short and long time scales in Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.).

ABSTRACT: Time series of stem diameter variations (SDVs) recorded by dendrometers are composed of two components: (i) irreversible radial stem growth and (ii) reversible stem shrinking and swelling caused by dynamics in water storage in elastic tissues outside the cambium. However, SDVs measured over dead outer bark (periderm) could also be affected by absorption and evaporation of water from remaining dead bark layers after smoothing the stem surface to properly mount dendrometers. Therefore, the focus of this study was to determine the influence of hygroscopicity of a thin dead outer bark layer on the reversible component of dendrometer records of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) under field conditions. To accomplish this, SDVs deduced from dendrometers mounted over dead outer bark were compar

SUBMITTER: Oberhuber W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7305029 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature