Water Uptake by Mountain Big Sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata subsp. vaseyana) and Environmental Variables Affecting Water Availability in Semiarid Rangeland Ecosystems

Abstract

The sagebrush steppe ecosystem plays a critical role in water cycling in arid and semiarid landscapes of the western United States; yet, there is limited information regarding individual sagebrush plant water uptake. We used the stem heat balance (SHB) method to measure transpiration in mountain big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata subsp. vaseyana) plants in a semiarid rangeland ecosystem in central Oregon, Pacific Northwest Region, USA. We evaluated the relationship between sagebrush transpiration and environmental factors from July 2022 to May 2023 for two individual plants representative of the average sagebrush stand height and crown width at the study site; transpiration rates varied by plant and by season. This study encompassed one below-average (2022; 278 mm) and one above-average (2023; 414 mm) precipitation years. Study results showed that the average water use during the entire period of study was 2.1 L d−1 for Plant 1 and 5.0 L d−1 for Plant 2. During the dry year, maximum transpiration was observed during the summer (Plant 1 = 4.8 L d−1; Plant 2 = 11.1 L d−1). For the wet year, both plants showed maximum transpiration levels at the end of the recording period in mid-May (Plant 1 = 9.6 L d−1; Plant 2 = 8.6 L d−1). The highest seasonal transpiration of both plants occurred in summer (2.87 L d−1), whereas the lowest transpiration was obtained in winter (0.21 L d−1). For all seasons but winter, soil moisture (SM), soil temperature (ST), and vapor pressure deficit (VPD) variables generally showed positive correlations with transpiration. Transpiration rates decreased in the summer of 2022 as the surface soil gradually dried. The two plants’ most significant water uptake differences were obtained during the dry year. It is possible that the larger stem diameter of plant 2 may have contributed to its higher transpiration rates during times of limited water availability. The study results add to the understanding of water use by sagebrush and its potential impact on the water balance of cool-climate rangeland ecosystems. The findings also highlight the sensitivity of sagebrush to variations in seasonal soil moisture availability, soil temperature, and vapor pressure deficit. Future research should involve studying the combined effects of water use by various dominant vegetation species and its effects on the water budget at the watershed scale.