Basic Water Properties: Attributes and Reactions Essential for Tree Life
University Outreach Publication
Water is essential to tree life. Water is a solvent, transporter, buffer, and reagent for the tree. Water is the most limiting of all essential tree resources. Trees have developed specialized organs, processes, and surfaces to use and conserve water carefully. The value of water lies with its chemical properties, physical reactions, and biological uses. This publication will review what is water, and how it supports life through its properties.
Water is the single most important molecule in trees and the ecological system that supports trees. Water is the starting point for photosynthesis capturing energy from the sun. Water is the hydraulic fluid, transportation stream, and solvent used by trees. Water usually is between 70% to 90% of the mass of a growing tree, whether the tissue is living or dead. Within each living tree cell is the waterbased solution that contains, supports and dissolves a variety of materials and molecules responsible for life. This water solution of tree life is called cytoplasm.
(FOR99-014) June 1999
Kim D. Coder
1999
University of Georgia School of Forest Resources
Athens, GA
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Abiotic Factors, Evapotranspiration, Heat Island, Hydrology, Impervious Surfaces/Cover, Landscape Ecology, Riparian Areas, Biology (tree), Diagnosis and Treatment, Mechanics (tree), Health (tree), Maintenance Specifications, Water Quality/Quantity, Watershed Management
International
Water, Water characteristics, Water features, Water qualities
