Tree structure reduces water loss: umbrella thorn trees

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The structure of umbrella thorn trees preserves soil moisture by having a high proportion above-ground woody mass and low amount of foliage.

Biomimicry Taxonomy

	Maintain physical integrity >
	Protect from abiotic factors >
	Loss of liquids

Biomimetic Application Ideas

Designing agroforestry systems, cropping systems combining trees and understory crops, in water-short areas.

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[Collapse all sections] Summary

"According to the savannah literature, grasses utilise the topsoil water while tree roots have exclusive access to deeper water, creating a clear niche separation (Weltzin and Coughenour, 1990; Deans et al., 1995). However, Belsky and her colleagues (1993) observed that the shallow rooting baobab (Adansonia digitata) has the same beneficial effect on understorey soils and vegetation as the deep-rooted Acacia tortilis. One explanation could be that both species have a higher proportion of woody aboveground structure than foliage, so that more soil water is saved by reducing soil evaporation than is lost as transpiration, although interception loss would still exist. In contrast, the proportion of woody structure in most new simultaneous agroforestry systems is deliberately kept to a minimum by either frequent pruning or selection of leafy tree species (Van Noordwijk and Ong, this volume)." (Ong and Leakey 1999:110)

About the inspiring organism

Acacia tortilis
Acacia tortilis (Forssk.)Hayne
[Umbrella thorn]

IUCN Red List Status: Unknown

Some organism data provided by: ILDIS World Database of Legumes
Organism/taxonomy data provided by:
Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life: 2008 Annual Checklist

Bioinspired products and application ideas

Application Ideas: Designing agroforestry systems, cropping systems combining trees and understory crops, in water-short areas.

Industrial Sector(s) interested in this strategy: Agriculture

References

Ong, C. K.; Leakey, R. R. B. 1999. Why tree-crop interactions in agroforestry appear at odds with tree-grass interactions in tropical savannahs. Agroforestry Systems. 45(1): 109-129.

Tree structure reduces water loss: umbrella thorn trees

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