Sap flow and the relationship between transpiration, stem diameter, leaf area, and depth to groundwater: A field study at Ischua Creek Habitat phytoremediation barrier, NY

Phytorextraction is a phytoremediaiton technology for subsurface remediation that utilizes the ability of plants to hydraulically control groundwater.;The University at Buffalo and Motorola Inc. have worked together on the design and study of a phytoremediation barrier in the Ischua Creek Habitat site, western New York. This thesis examines sap flow data collected in the field during the 2014-2015 growing seasons to determine amount of transpiration by the barrier. This thesis also examines field measurements of water elevations and tree root depth to determine the areas where the barrier is directly impacting the water table. The observed relationships between transpiration, tree size, and depth to groundwater are then used to scale up the transpiration to the whole phytoremediation barrier. The results from this analysis show that, after approximately five years of growth, only a subset of the poplars have roots in the water, which partially accounts for variations in measured sap flow and water table fluctuations. However, it is expected that as the trees continue to grow and the roots further penetrate the subsurface, the barrier will increase its water usage and more directly influence groundwater flow.