Multiple isotopic models using various kinetic fractionation coefficients to estimateδ18O of leaf water
AbstractInvestigation ofδ18O of leaf water may improve our understanding of the evapotranspiration partitioning and material exchange between the inside and outside of leaves. In this study,δ18O of bulk leaf water (δL,b) was estimated by both isotopic–steady–state (ISS) and non–steady–state (NSS) assumptions considering the Péclet effect. Specifically, we carefully modified kinetic fractionation coefficients (αk). The results showed that the Péclet effect is required to predictδL,b. On the diel time scale, both NSS assumption + Péclet effect (NSS + P) and ISS assumption + Péclet effect (ISS + P) using modifiedαk(αk–modified) forδL,bshowed a good agreement with observedδL,b(p> 0.05). When using previously proposedαk, however, both NSS + P and ISS + P were not reliable estimators ofδL,b(p< 0.05). On a longer time scale (days), estimates of daily meanδL,bfrom ISS + P outperformed the estimates from NSS + P when using the sameαkvalues. Also, the employment ofαk–modifiedimproved model performance in predicting daily meanδL,bcompared to the use of previously proposedαk. Clearly, special care must be taken concerningαkwhen using isotopic models to estimateδL,b.HighlightFor hourly and daily mean data sets, the employment of modified kinetic fractionation coefficients significantly improved model performance forδ18O of bulk leaf water.