Growth and phenology of established Tilia cordata street trees in response to different irrigation regimes

Abstract

The effect of different irrigation regimes on growth and phenology of 100 established Tilia cordata street trees was investigated during the growth period of 2004. Relative stem increment increased significantly when irrigating with 280, 320, or 640 L (74, 84.5, and 169 gal) of water throughout the growth period. The length of the growth period was affected by irrigation regimes in regard to termination of growth, as the trees receiving 640 L (169 gal) had a growth period significantly longer than the control trees. These results indicate that growth and growth period of street trees are augmented by an increase in the amount of water available to them. In addition, block effects concerning the start of the growth period were observed, as trees situated on the northern side of the street initiated stem growth 7 days earlier than the trees on the southern side. © 2006 International Society of Arboriculture.