Drought Damage to Trees
Dr. Kim D. Coder
Professor, Silvics/Ecology
Warnell School of Forest Resources
The University of Georgia
April 1999
Water is the most limiting ecological resource for most tree and forest sites. As soil-water content declines, trees become more stressed and begin to react to resource availability changes. A point is reached when water is so inadequately available that tree tissues and processes are damaged. Lack of water eventually leads to catastrophic biological failures and death.
Growing periods with little water can lead to decreased rates of diameter and height growth, poor resistance to other stresses, disruption of food production and distribution, and changes to the timing and rate of physiological processes, like fruit production and dormancy. More than eighty percent of the variation in tree growth is because of water supply. Effects of drought can be recognized throughout a tree.
UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA SCHOOL OF FOREST RESOURCES EXTENSION PUBLICATION FOR 99-010. 4/1999.
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