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A single-probe heat pulse method for estimating sap velocity in trees.
Álvaro López-Bernal1, Luca Testi2, Francisco J Villalobos1,2
1Departamento de Agronomía, Universidad de Córdoba, Campus de Rabanales, Edificio C4, 14071, Córdoba, Spain.
The New Phytologist
|July 20, 2017
Summary
A new single-probe heat pulse (SPHP) method offers a simpler, cheaper, and more reliable way to measure sap velocity in trees. This advancement makes sap flow monitoring more accessible for broader research applications.
Area of Science:
- Plant Physiology
- Forestry Science
- Environmental Monitoring
Background:
- Current sap flow methods are complex, expensive, and limited in application.
- There is a need for more accessible and reliable sap flow monitoring techniques.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce and validate a novel single-probe heat pulse (SPHP) method for sap velocity measurement.
- To compare the SPHP method against the established compensation heat pulse (CHP) technique.
Main Methods:
- Development of a single-probe sensor for heat pulse application and temperature measurement.
- Simultaneous application of SPHP and CHP methods using a custom three-probe sensor.
- Validation across six different tree species under field conditions.
Main Results:
- Excellent agreement was observed between SPHP and CHP measurements at moderate to high sap flow rates.
- The SPHP method demonstrated applicability across diverse tree species.
- The SPHP method showed high correlation with the validated CHP technique.
Conclusions:
- The single-probe heat pulse (SPHP) method is a viable and effective alternative for sap flow monitoring.
- SPHP offers significant advantages including lower power consumption, simpler instrumentation, and reduced tree damage.
- This method enhances the accessibility of sap flow research beyond specialized applications.
