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Estimating sap flow from stem heat balances in Quercus robur L. seedlings in relation to light intensity: A comparison of two methods during the establishment phase

Estimation du flux de sève à partir du bilan thermique de la tige de plants de Quercus robur L. en relation avec l’intensité de la lumière : comparaison de deux méthodes au cours de la phase d’installation

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Abstract

  • • Knowledge of whole tree seedling water fluxes is important in ecological and forestry research, especially under conditions with low transpiration, but no standard method has yet been established that provides reliable in situ measurements.

  • • The aims were: (1) to assess the performance of two methods for estimating sap-flows in oak seedlings following planting by correlating the data they provided with natural light intensities over a three-week period, and (2) to compare the estimates with transpiration data obtained by weighing pots.

  • • Estimates of sap flows obtained from data provided by constant power (Dayau-type) heat balance gauges under low light conditions (100–450 μmol m−2 s−1) were less variable than estimates from variable power (EMS-type) heat balance gauges. The EMS-type system yielded data with little between-gauge variation, but consistently underestimated transpiration on a daily basis, a systematic error that should be corrected by other methods. The Dayau-type gauges yielded data with substantial variations, and several gauges are probably needed in research to cover these variations. Further, both systems provide rather uncertain estimates of short-time (hour) transpiration rates.

  • • However, provided that these considerations are taken into account, we conclude that it should be possible to use either system in various research contexts.

Résumé

  • • La connaissance des flux d’eau de l’arbre entier est importante dans la recherche en écologie et en foresterie, en particulier dans des conditions de faible transpiration, mais jusqu’à présent, aucune méthode standard ne procure des mesures fiables in situ.

  • • Les objectifs étaient : (1) d’évaluer la performance de deux méthodes d’estimation des flux de sève en suivant une plantation de semis de chêne et en corrélant les données fournies par ces dernières avec les intensités de lumière naturelle sur une période de trois semaines, et (2) de comparer les estimations de transpiration avec des données obtenues par pesée des pots.

  • • Les estimations de flux de sève obtenues à partir des données fournies par une alimentation constante (Dayau-type) des jauges de bilan thermique sous des conditions de faible luminosité (100–450 μmol m−2 s−1) sont moins variables que les estimations des jauges de bilan thermique à puissance variable (EMS-type). Le système EMS-type a fourni des données avec peu de variation entre les jauges, mais a toujours sous-estimé la transpiration sur une base quotidienne, une erreur systématique qui doit être corrigé par d’autres méthodes. Les jauges de type Dayau ont fourni des données avec des variations importantes, et plusieurs jauges sont probablement nécessaires pour la compréhension de ces variations. En outre, les deux systèmes fournissent des estimations plutôt incertaines des taux de transpiration pour des courtes périodes de temps (heure).

  • • Cependant, à condition que ces considérations soient prises en compte, nous concluons qu’il devrait être possible d’utiliser les deux systèmes, dans divers contextes de recherche.

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  1. Southern Swedish Forest Research Centre, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, P.O. Box 49, 230 53, Alnarp, Sweden

    Magnus Löf & N. Torkel Welander

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  1. Magnus Löf
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  2. N. Torkel Welander
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Correspondence to Magnus Löf.

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Löf, M., Welander, N.T. Estimating sap flow from stem heat balances in Quercus robur L. seedlings in relation to light intensity: A comparison of two methods during the establishment phase. Ann. For. Sci. 66, 501 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1051/forest/2009034

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1051/forest/2009034

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