ISSN:
1365-3040
Source:
Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005
Topics:
Biology
Notes:
Daily patterns of stomatal conductance (gs), xylem pressure potential (P) and canopy microclimatic variables were recorded on 11 sample days as part of a one-year study of the water use of Eucalyptus grandis Hill ex Maiden in the eastern Transvaal, South Africa. Measured gs was found to be largely controlled by quantum flux density (Q) and ambient vapour pressure deficit (D). Canopy conductance (gc) was determined for hourly intervals using gs measurements and leaf areas in four different canopy levels. A simple model was constructed to allow the prediction of gc and transpiration from Q, D and season of year. The model was used to estimate transpiration rates from 10 trees in a later study of similarly-aged E. grandis trees, in which sap flow in each tree was measured using the heat pulse velocity (HPV) technique. Five of the trees were monitored on a summer day and five on a winter day. Correspondence between HPV sap flow and modelled transpiration was good for the summertime comparisons, but measured winter-time sap flow rates were underestimated by the model, especially under conditions of high sap flow. The discrepancy is believed to result from having insufficient data from the conductance study to describe the response of gs to relatively high D in winter. Marked variation in transpiration per unit leaf area indicates that a relatively large number of trees must be sampled for the HPV technique to be used to obtain a mean rate for an entire stand in winter.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-3040.1993.tb00843.x
