Indigenous Tree Plantations

A research project, solicited and funded by the Water Research Commission and the Dept. of Water Affairs (Working for Water Programme) and led by the CSIR, has been commissioned to investigate rates of water-use and growth within indigenous tree systems.  The main objectives of the project are to improve our knowledge of how much water indigenous tree species use, how efficiently they use that water (e.g. utilisable timber produced per unit of water used) and what potential exists for indigenous tree species to be planted more widely in South Africa.   Over the next 5 years, growth and water-use measurements using specialised techniques (e.g. sap flow and energy balance methods) will be conducted in natural indigenous forests (mixed species / mixed ages) and in indigenous plantations (single species / single age) where possible.

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Using less water in the garden

Some advice from the latest Enviropaedia newsletter:

• Always water your plants during the early morning hours or in the evening. Between 10:00 and 15:00 you can lose up to 90% of water to evaporation.
• Focus on indigenous and non–invasive alien plants with low water demands.
• Roof water can also be profitably stored in tanks for watering gardens.
• Use “grey water” from baths, washing mashines and other safe sources to water your garden.

Or better yet, let the rain do your watering (pic from www.sxc.hu).