<p>The precise reasons for leaf shedding after monsoon aren't well known and studied, but there are vague reasons like optimising use of light and warmth for max photosynthetic gain. So the tree has a heavy load of leaves to grow fast in monsoon, and it fast depletes the groundwater if it keeps the leaves in the dry season. read the conclusion here: <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1466-8238.2006.00213.x" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1466-8238.2006.00213.x</a></p>
<p>Trees need to store reserves to allow their survival during winter and for bud flush and leaf growth in the following spring.</p>
<p>Generally it takes 2 weeks or a month for a deciduous tree to prepare dormancy/sleep time, to gather all the nitrogen, glucose and nutritive elements from their leaves.
If the plant keeps on growing when it's leaves are adapted to massive rainfall, it may lose the green leaves rather than gather useful elements and prepare for dormancy.</p>
<p>i.e. from this image you can see the winter stored sugar being used to grow new leaves, for this tree the spring is in april: <a href="https://i.sstatic.net/jfqDL.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/jfqDL.jpg" alt="enter image description here" /></a></p>
<p>There's some interesting facts about leaves here: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autumn_leaf_color#Function_of_autumn_colors" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autumn_leaf_color#Function_of_autumn_colors</a></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-08-25T06:45:33.490Z
Thanks a lot for the explanation and the link. It is mentioned in the paper (that the link opens) that "Implicitly, rainfall periodicity, i.e. climate, is not the principal determinant of vegetative tree phenology". Does it mean that trees follow their own cyclic pattern, which is mostly independent of the seasonal changes?
user343802
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-08-25T07:32:00.187Z
Yes it uses over-complicated words to sound clever. In proper |english he said: "The seasonal rainfall timing and the climate generally appear not to be the main factor that govern the deciduous periods of the trees" ... And actually that statement is a bit wrong. He should say "The short-term rain and temperature levels are implicity not the main determinant of the deciduous timing, the longer term physiology of the tree is more important" ... I'll add a bit to the answer.
bandybabboon
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-08-25T05:04:49.977Z
2020-08-25T07:50:57.937Z
2020-08-25T07:50:57.937Z
bandybabboon
<p>My location is India (this is to mention the context). The question I submit here is a common man's query (the level of this question and the expected answer).</p>
<p>Water is essential for the growth of plants and trees. Why does then autumn follow the rainy season? When the rainy season brings so much water, which is essential for the growth of plants, why doesn't spring follow the rainy season?</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-08-25T04:32:42.830Z
India is a rather large place, so I suggest you pinpoint your state? Also, have you read up on the monsoon, and why/how it occurs?
Erik
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-08-25T04:41:26.033Z
It is different for different parts of the world. In south-eastern Australia, winter is the rainy season so it is followed by spring. It depends on the weather patterns and I don't think the weather cares what grows. However, the native plants will adapt to make the most of what they get.
haresfur
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-08-25T05:13:11.330Z
@Erik i think indians learn about their seasonal air pressure from school when they learn to spell. The deciduous habit is a paradox though. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1466-8238.2006.00213.x
bandybabboon
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-08-25T06:36:02.347Z
@aliential Yes sir. The apparent paradox is causing the confusion.
user343802
<vegetation><plant>
Why autumn follows the rainy season
user343802
# Why autumn follows the rainy season

(Asked by: username_0 on 2020-08-25)

My location is India (this is to mention the context). The question I submit here is a common man's query (the level of this question and the expected answer).

Water is essential for the growth of plants and trees. Why does then autumn follow the rainy season? When the rainy season brings so much water, which is essential for the growth of plants, why doesn't spring follow the rainy season?

**Tags:** vegetation, plant

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: India is a rather large place, so I suggest you pinpoint your state? Also, have you read up on the monsoon, and why/how it occurs?  
> **username_2**: It is different for different parts of the world. In south-eastern Australia, winter is the rainy season so it is followed by spring. It depends on the weather patterns and I don't think the weather cares what grows. However, the native plants will adapt to make the most of what they get.  
> **username_3**: @username_1 i think indians learn about their seasonal air pressure from school when they learn to spell. The deciduous habit is a paradox though. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1466-8238.2006.00213.x  
> **username_0**: @aliential Yes sir. The apparent paradox is causing the confusion.  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2020-08-25. Score: 1 | Accepted answer

The precise reasons for leaf shedding after monsoon aren't well known and studied, but there are vague reasons like optimising use of light and warmth for max photosynthetic gain. So the tree has a heavy load of leaves to grow fast in monsoon, and it fast depletes the groundwater if it keeps the leaves in the dry season. read the conclusion here: <https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1466-8238.2006.00213.x>

Trees need to store reserves to allow their survival during winter and for bud flush and leaf growth in the following spring.

Generally it takes 2 weeks or a month for a deciduous tree to prepare dormancy/sleep time, to gather all the nitrogen, glucose and nutritive elements from their leaves.
If the plant keeps on growing when it's leaves are adapted to massive rainfall, it may lose the green leaves rather than gather useful elements and prepare for dormancy.

i.e. from this image you can see the winter stored sugar being used to grow new leaves, for this tree the spring is in april: [![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/jfqDL.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/jfqDL.jpg)

There's some interesting facts about leaves here: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autumn_leaf_color#Function_of_autumn_colors>

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Thanks a lot for the explanation and the link. It is mentioned in the paper (that the link opens) that "Implicitly, rainfall periodicity, i.e. climate, is not the principal determinant of vegetative tree phenology". Does it mean that trees follow their own cyclic pattern, which is mostly independent of the seasonal changes?  
> **username_3**: Yes it uses over-complicated words to sound clever. In proper |english he said: "The seasonal rainfall timing and the climate generally appear not to be the main factor that govern the deciduous periods of the trees" ... And actually that statement is a bit wrong. He should say "The short-term rain and temperature levels are implicity not the main determinant of the deciduous timing, the longer term physiology of the tree is more important" ... I'll add a bit to the answer.  

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