Post-effetti di carenza idrica di lungo periodo in pinete mediterranee

Abstract: Two studies were carried out on the effects of imposed water shortage in two Mediterranean pine stands growing in Southern Italy. The impact of a severe reduction in water availability on the growth of 50-year old Pinus halepensis trees (growing along the Ionian coast of Puglia, experiment 1) and 35-year-old Pinus laricio trees growing in Sila (Calabria Region, experiment 2) were studied. The experimental effects were followed for 12 months in experiment 1 and for 36 months in experiment 2, comparing covered plots and uncovered control plots. The experiment was carried out on plants of the same plots, to check if long-term water shortage caused post-effects on their growth. This research aimed to investigate what pines suffer during last years, considering the beginning of possible long-term effect on these pine forests. The results were different for the species. After treatment, the reduction of radial growth Pinus halepensis covered plants was observed, while a positive trend of growth of control trees was observed. A recovering of both covered and control Pinus laricio trees growth was observed.