Stem Growth of Horse Chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum L.) under a Warming Climate—Tree Age Matters

Abstract

This research provides new information about the effect of drought on horse chestnut growth (Aesculus hippocastanum L.) in different ages. Global climatic scenarios predict a higher frequency of heatwaves and drought periods; however, investigations into the growth reaction of horse chestnut to drought are completely lacking. Approximately 50-year-old solitary, 100-year-old solitary, and 100-year-old canopy horse chestnut trees in a floodplain area were investigated. Growth reactions measured using automated dendrometers with respect to meteorological variables and water table depth were investigated during the years 2019–2021. Cambial activity was shown to be driven by tree age, as younger trees had higher stem radial increment rates. Both mature tree groups suffered from a low depth of water level and from higher sensitivity to meteorological variables, as growth was limited when mean daily vapor pressure deficit (VPD) exceeded 600 Pa. Together with a lower probability of growing days and a shorter growing season (GS) with earlier cessation of growth resulted in a lower total year radial increment (GRO) and basal area increment (BAI) when compared to younger trees. The young trees also exhibited lower tree-water-deficit-induced stem shrinkage (TWD) across all the studied years. Overall, horse chestnut trees in this floodplain area could be endangered by the decreasing level of soil water, with a greater age exacerbating the effects of drought. The year water deficit exceeded −340 mm in this locality every year, which has to be compensated for by regular flooding.