Influence of individual oak (Quercus robur) trees on saturated hydraulic conductivity

The influence of single trees on saturated hydraulic conductivity (K-s) was investigated for six isolated oak trees (Quercus robur) growing on a DystricGleysol in an area of parkland in northwest England. The K-s was measured within the A soil horizon over a 0.10-0.25 m depth using a borehole permeameter. A dataset of 119 K-s values was obtained and comprises of 55 values from around 1 oak tree at distances of 1-13 m from the trunk, 45 tests around 5 other oak trees, and 19 tests in open grassland. For the intensively sampled tree, Wilcoxon rank sum tests showed a significant difference (p < 0.05) between the median K, at 3, 5, 7 and I I m from the trunk and that in the surrounding grassland. At 3 m from this tree, the median and geometric mean K, were a factor of 2.3 and 3.4, respectively, larger than those of the open grassland. Further, the geometric mean K, decreased at a rate of -4 x 10(-7) m s(-1) m(-1) from 1 to 9 m from the trunk, though it increased at 11 m, before declining again. A similar pattern in geometric mean K, was observed in the 45 values around the five other oak trees. A literature review of the potential positive and negative effects of trees on K, was used to provide tentative explanations for the observed patterns and to highlight the new data needed to support more robust interpretations. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.