Water use efficiency of industrial tree species of Ghana

Ernest Gyamfi

Bakalářská práce

Abstract:

In recent times water use efficiency of plants has become an important concept of discussion both to agronomists and foresters because of the continual depletion of water as a resource due to global climatic changes. Forest vegetation are becoming drier than before due to sustained increase in temperature. The aim of this work was to compile and review available scientific literature on the water use efficiency of some selected industrial tree species in Ghana along with their physiological traits. Among such physiological traits were anatomy of leaves and stems, root structure, the type of photosynthesis, transpiration rate, fertilization, pollination, germination, seed dormancy, adaptation to biotic and abiotic stress, drought tolerance, biochemical composition etc. Unfortunately, not much information about these aforementioned traits were found due to the limited research on these natives although they are of high commercial value. A big knowledge gap was found with respect to the physiology of these tree species compared to crop plants. Most of the research done on these native species were old and have not been reviewed in a while. This lack of current knowledge has resulted in failure of many forest restoration and plantation programs. The domesticated tree Tectona grandis was found to be the most promising in terms water use efficiency probably because of its ability to growth in a wide range of climatic and edaphic conditions. This work has brought to light the need to pay attention to research of these high valued commercial species.

Keywords

Tectona grandis, transpiration, photosynthesis

Jazyk práce: angličtina

Datum vytvoření / odevzdání či podání práce: 19. 4. 2019

Obhajoba závěrečné práce

• Vedoucí: doc. Ing. Ivana Tomášková, Ph.D.

Česká zemědělská univerzita v Praze

Fakulta lesnická a dřevařská

Bakalářský studijní program / obor:
Lesnictví / Forestry