Growth, water use, and water use efficiency of Eucalyptus globulus and Pinus radiata plantations compared with natural stands of Roble-Hualo forest in the coastal mountains of central Chile

•Annual evapotranspiration of E. globulus and P. radiata plantations was the same.•Evapotranspiration by plantations was 100 mm more per year than for native forests.•Transpiration was about 100 mm greater in plantations than native forest.•The cause of greater transpiration differed between the plantation species.•E. globulus was 50% more water use efficient than than P. radiata.•Plantations were at least 5 times more water use efficient than native forests.