The Water-Balance of Bamboo Thicket and of Newly Planted Pines

Abstract

Results of the preliminary water use experiments at Kinale, in the same bamboo forest some 16 miles south-east of the experimental catchments, have been published elsewhere (Pereira and Hosegood, 1962) (1) but the main findings are relevant here. Direct measurements of water-use from 10 ft. depth of soil showed equal consumption by 120 ft. high 26 year old Radiata pine, 50 ft. high 16 year old Monterey cypress, 30 ft. high 10 year old "shamba" planted Patula pine (after clean weeding had ceased) and from the undisturbed indigenous bamboo thicket. In all cases the water use averaged approximately 86 per cent of open-water evaporation.