Abstract

Microclimate and transpiration in a 3-4 yr old coppiced Eucalyptus tereticornis plantation in Kerala, India, was studied in 1990-91 with the main objective of quantifying the water lost by transpiration. Micrometeorological measurements were made using an automatic weather station established 2 m above the canopy. Temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, solar radiation and net radiation were monitored diurnally. Hourly measurements of stomatal conductance were also made. All the parameters measured were used in the Penman-Monteith equation to derive the hourly water consumption by transpiration. The results indicated that the hourly transpiration reaches 1. 3 mm and that daily transpiration can be more than 8 mm. Water potential measurements showed that the trees were not under severe water stress during any part of the year