THE INFLUENCE OF CLIMATIC CONDITIONS ON GAS AND ENERGY EXCHANGES ABOVE A YOUNG OIL PALM STAND IN NORTH KEDAH, MALAYSIA

Abstract

Measurements of fluxes of CO 2 , latent heat and sensible heat were made above a three-year-old oil palm canopy in north Kedah, Malaysia where there is a regular dry season of three months or more annually. The results indicate substantially lower levels of CO 2 flux and latent heat flux (evapotranspiration) and substantially increased levels of sensible heat flux in the middle of the annual dry season in February, than in the succeeding wetter months of April to June. Canopy conductance for water vapour was likewise low during the drought and increased subsequently. The use of these results as an aid to quantifying the responses of oil palm to water deficits is discussed.