Measurement of sap flow in young apple trees using the average gradient heat-pulse method

Approach-grafted 1-year-old `Gala'/M7 apple trees were grown with both tops for the remainder of the 2003 season in a greenhouse. Trees were supplied with >100% (control, PRD100) or 50% (PRD50, DI50) of daily ETc either applied to one root compartment only (PRD100, PRD50) or divided evenly across both root compartments (control and DI50). ETc was estimated from gravimetric measurements, and irrigation was switched between wet and dry root compartments several times throughout the experiment. Soil moisture was measured both gravimetrically (tripod) and volumetrically (time-domain reflectometry). Predawn leaf water potential (υpd) and single leaf gas exchange (photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, and transpiration) were recorded daily, and sap flow in stems and roots was monitored continuously using the heat-pulse technique. Leaves were collected for abscisic acid (ABA) determination following gas exchange measurements. Regardless of irrigation placement (i.e., PRD or DI), both 50% ETc treatments experienced similar declines in υpd and single leaf gas exchange relative to control levels. In addition, ABA concentrations were similar for PRD50 and DI50, and were significantly higher than the control and PRD100 treatments. PRD100 trees had similar υpd as control trees; however, gas exchange was reduced >25% compared to the control. Bulk leaf ABA concentration did not differ significantly from control levels and does not by itself explain the down regulation of stomata with PRD100.

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A validation, comparison and error analysis of two heat-pulse methods for measuring sap flow in Eucalyptus marginata saplings

Functional Plant Biology ◽

10.1071/fp04013 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 31 (6) ◽

pp. 645 ◽

Cited By ~ 56

Author(s):

Timothy M. Bleby ◽

Stephen S. O. Burgess ◽

Mark A. Adams

Keyword(s):

Sap Flow ◽

Woody Species ◽

Pulse Method ◽

Heat Pulse ◽

Random Fluctuation ◽

Ratio Method ◽

Threshold Velocity ◽

Sapwood Area ◽

Eucalyptus Marginata ◽

Significant Difference

We validated and compared two heat-pulse methods for measuring sap flow in potted Eucalyptus marginata Donn ex. Smith (jarrah) saplings. During daylight hours and under well-watered conditions, rates of sap flow (0.1–0.5 kg h–1) measured by the established compensation heat-pulse method (CHPM) and the newly developed heat-ratio method (HRM) were similar to rates measured with a weighing lysimeter, and most of the time there was no significant difference (P<0.001) between methods. The HRM accurately described sap flow at night when rates of flow were low (< 0.1 kg h–1) or near zero, but the CHPM was unable to measure low rates of sap flow due to its inability to distinguish heat-pulse velocities below a threshold velocity of 0.1 kg h–1 (3–4 cm h–1). The greatest potential for error in the calculation of daily sap flow was associated with the misalignment of temperature sensors, the estimation of sapwood area and the method used to acquire total sap flow from point measurements of sap velocity. A direct comparison of the two heat-pulse methods (applied synchronously) revealed that the HRM had a more convincing mechanism for correcting spacing errors and was more resistant to random fluctuation in measurements than the CHPM. While we view the HRM more favourably than the CHPM in some key areas, both methods are valid and useful, within their constraints, for measuring transpiration in jarrah and other woody species.

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