Shoopala Uugulu
Current Organizations / Institutes
The organizations/institutes from the scholar's latest article
Research Subjects
Shoopala Uugulu has a total of 5 co-authors. Here are the top co-authors by number of shared publications:
- Rosemary Shikangalah
University of Namibia
2 shared publications - Endjambi Tobias
The International University of Management, Department of Environmental Studies
1 shared publication - Eveline Omagano Anyolo
University of Namibia
1 shared publication Heike Wanke
School of Engineering, University of the West of England, Bristol, UK
1 shared publicationPaul Koeniger
BGR Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources, Hannover, Germany
1 shared publication
Latest Publications
- 14 January 2026
- Published by Springer Nature
- p. 155-175
Challenges and Potential Improvements in Implementing Environmental Education amid Climate Change
- 14 January 2026
- Published by Springer Nature
- p. 155-175
Challenges and Potential Improvements in Implementing Environmental Education amid Climate Change
- Open Access
- 14 November 2023
- Published by Springer Nature in Hydrogeology Journal
- Vol. 32 (1) , 189-201
Determining the source water and active root depth of woody plants using a deuterium tracer at a Savannah site in northern Stampriet Basin, Namibia
Woody plants play a significant role in the global water cycle through water uptake by roots and evapotranspiration. A deuterium tracer was used to assess the active root depths for Salvia mellifera and Boscia albitrunca in the Ebenhaezer area (western Namibia). The tracer was inserted at different soil depths in December 2016. Xylem cores were obtained using an increment borer, and transpired water was collected using transpiration bags zipped around the plants’ leaves. Groundwater was collected from boreholes. Soil samples were collected after the rainy season using a hand auger. Xylem and soil water were extracted using a cryogenic vacuum extraction method and analysed for stable water isotopes. Only one S. mellifera transpiration sample showed a high deuterium content (516‰) where the tracer was inserted at 2.5-m soil depth. Elevated deuterium contents were observed in two S. mellifera xylem samples; tracer had been applied at 2.5 and 3 m depth (yielding 35 and 31‰ deuterium, respectively), which constitutes a possible active-root depth range for S. mellifera. At the end of the study period (May 2017), the average δ18O value for B. albitrunca xylem samples was similar to that of groundwater. The δ18O value for S. mellifera was between that of soil water and groundwater, indicating that this species uses groundwater and soil water available for groundwater recharge. Determination of the active root depth and source water for these species would help improve hydrological modelling by incorporating the influence of woody plants on groundwater recharge.
- 14 November 2023
- Published by Springer Nature in Hydrogeology Journal
- Vol. 32 (1) , 189-201
Open AccessDetermining the source water and active root depth of woody plants using a deuterium tracer at a Savannah site in northern Stampriet Basin, Namibia
Woody plants play a significant role in the global water cycle through water uptake by roots and evapotranspiration. A deuterium tracer was used to assess the active root depths for Salvia mellifera and Boscia albitrunca in the Ebenhaezer area (western Namibia). The tracer was inserted at different soil depths in December 2016. Xylem cores were obtained using an increment borer, and transpired water was collected using transpiration bags zipped around the plants’ leaves. Groundwater was collected from boreholes. Soil samples were collected after the rainy season using a hand auger. Xylem and soil water were extracted using a cryogenic vacuum extraction method and analysed for stable water isotopes. Only one S. mellifera transpiration sample showed a high deuterium content (516‰) where the tracer was inserted at 2.5-m soil depth. Elevated deuterium contents were observed in two S. mellifera xylem samples; tracer had been applied at 2.5 and 3 m depth (yielding 35 and 31‰ deuterium, respectively), which constitutes a possible active-root depth range for S. mellifera. At the end of the study period (May 2017), the average δ18O value for B. albitrunca xylem samples was similar to that of groundwater. The δ18O value for S. mellifera was between that of soil water and groundwater, indicating that this species uses groundwater and soil water available for groundwater recharge. Determination of the active root depth and source water for these species would help improve hydrological modelling by incorporating the influence of woody plants on groundwater recharge.