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Thermal properties of sapwood of fruit trees as affected by anatomy and water potential: errors in sap flux density measurements based on heat pulse methods

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Abstract

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The accuracy of heat pulse methods is compromised both by changes in sapwood water content and by the methodology applied to determine its thermal properties.

Abstract

Sapwood thermal properties and water content (F w) natural variations affect the accuracy of heat pulse sap flow methods, as they are typically set as constants or calculated during zero flow conditions. In a first experiment, a characterisation of both thermal properties and some of their determining anatomical and functional factors was conducted on several fruit tree species assessing the reliability of different methodologies. Besides that, a second experiment was carried out to evaluate the errors of heat pulse methods arising from ignoring F w variations. To do so, desorption curves were constructed, allowing the substitution of F w changes with those of water potential (Ψ). Results of the first experiment showed considerable differences between species in both the thermal, anatomical and functional properties of sapwood. Apart from that, discrepancies between the methods applied to determine thermal properties were also found and their implications for some heat pulse methods are discussed. The analysis conducted for the second experiment indicated that large errors in sap flux density (J) determinations might occur when daily and seasonal variations of Ψ (and hence of F w) are disregarded. The extent of these errors was influenced by the species and heat pulse technique. Thus, the heat ratio and T max were, respectively, the least and most vulnerable methods to errors in J determinations associated with changes in F w.

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Author contribution statement

AL and FJV designed the experiments. AL carried out the fieldwork; AL and EA, the determination of anatomical traits and AL and FJV, the analysis of thermal properties and errors in sap flux measurements. AL, EA and FJV prepared the manuscript.

Acknowledgments

This work was funded by the Andalusian Regional Government (Junta de Andalucía, Project P10-AGR-6456), by the Spanish Ministry of Natural, Rural and Marine Environment (MMARM, Project AGL-2010-20766) and European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). In addition, we thank the Spanish Research Council (CSIC) predoctoral JAE program for the PhD funding granted to the first author. Furthermore, the authors also acknowledge the excellent technical support provided by Mr Rafael del Río, Mr Ignacio Calatrava and Mr José Luis Vazquez.

Conflict of interest

Nothing to declare.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto de Agricultura Sostenible (IAS), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Av. Menéndez Pidal s/n, 14080, Córdoba, Spain

    Álvaro López-Bernal & Francisco J. Villalobos

  2. Departamento de Agronomia, Universidad de Córdoba, Campus de Rabanales, Edificio C4, 14071, Córdoba, Spain

    Esteban Alcántara & Francisco J. Villalobos

Authors
  1. Álvaro López-Bernal
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  2. Esteban Alcántara
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  3. Francisco J. Villalobos
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Álvaro López-Bernal.

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Communicated by: T. Grams.

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López-Bernal, Á., Alcántara, E. & Villalobos, F.J. Thermal properties of sapwood of fruit trees as affected by anatomy and water potential: errors in sap flux density measurements based on heat pulse methods. Trees 28, 1623–1634 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00468-014-1071-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00468-014-1071-5

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