Water use by Eucalypt Clones Growing at Kongowe, Kibaha, Tanzania

Abstract

A study was carried out between April and October 2014 to investigate the amount of water used by Eucalypt clones grown at Kongowe, Tanzania. Sap flow sensors using heat pulse velocity were deployed across GC 167, GC 15 and GC 940 in wet and dry seasons. Data on water use were analysed using sap flow software. ANOVA was used to compare daily water use between clones and DMRT was used to separate means of daily water use between clones. Correlation was carried out to determine the influence of temperature on water use. Results revealed that GC 167, GC 15 and GC 940 had an average water use of 14, 7 and 5 L day-1 respectively in the wet season. During the dry season, water use of 11, 9 and 8 L day-1 was recorded for GC167, GC15 and GC940 respectively. Results further showed a strong positive correlation between daily tree water use and temperature. It is concluded that clone GC167 used high amount of water than GC15 and GC940 in the wet season as well as in dry season. It is important to identify where the studied clones should be placed in the landscape to produce the best environmental outcomes.