Water requirements of honeylocust (Gleditsia triacanthos f. inermis) in the urban forest

Abstract

Water use by an urban tree was measured lysimetrically while water use by the same tree at a non-urban site was estimated by a model. Comparison of the measured and estimated water use showed that the urban honeylocust (Gleditsia triacanthos f. inermis) required an average of 155 percent of the water needed by the same tree surrounded on a homogeneous vegetated surface. Measured water use ranged from 60 to 303 percent of estimated water use. Advected energy from surrounding urban sites was the apparent cause of the excess transpiration. A water requirement this much greater in the city would place the trees under water stress during the growing season.

Citation

Halverson, Howard G.; Potts, Donald F. 1981. Water requirements of honeylocust (Gleditsia triacanthos f. inermis) in the urban forest. Res. Pap. NE-487. Broomall, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Forest Experiemnt Station. 4p.