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Kinzinger L, Mach J, Haberstroh S, Schindler Z, Frey J, Dubbert M, Seeger S, Seifert T, Weiler M, Orlowski N, Werner C. Interaction between beech and spruce trees in temperate forests affects water use, root water uptake pattern and canopy structure. TREE PHYSIOLOGY 2024; 44:tpad144. [PMID: 38070177 DOI: 10.1093/treephys/tpad144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
Beneficial and negative effects of species interactions can strongly influence water fluxes in forest ecosystems. However, little is known about how trees dynamically adjust their water use when growing with interspecific neighbours. Therefore, we investigated the interaction effects between Fagus sylvatica (European beech) and Picea abies (Norway spruce) on water-use strategies and aboveground structural characteristics. We used continuous in situ isotope spectroscopy of xylem and soil water to investigate source water dynamics and root water uptake depths. Picea abies exhibited a reduced sun-exposed crown area in equally mixed compared with spruce-dominated sites, which was further correlated to a reduction in sap flow of -14.5 ± 8.2%. Contrarily, F. sylvatica trees showed +13.3 ± 33.3% higher water fluxes in equally mixed compared with beech-dominated forest sites. Although a significantly higher crown interference by neighbouring trees was observed, no correlation of water fluxes and crown structure was found. High time-resolved xylem δ2H values showed a large plasticity of tree water use (-74.1 to -28.5‰), reflecting the δ2H dynamics of soil and especially precipitation water sources. Fagus sylvatica in equally mixed sites shifted water uptake to deeper soil layers, while uptake of fresh precipitation was faster in beech-dominated sites. Our continuous in situ water stable isotope measurements traced root water uptake dynamics at unprecedented temporal resolution, indicating highly dynamic use of water sources in response to precipitation and to neighbouring species competition. Understanding this plasticity may be highly relevant in the context of increasing water scarcity and precipitation variability under climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Kinzinger
- Chair of Ecosystem Physiology, Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Freiburg, Georges-Köhler-Allee, 79110 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Judith Mach
- Chair of Hydrology, Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Freiburg, Friedrichstraße 39, 79089 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Simon Haberstroh
- Chair of Ecosystem Physiology, Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Freiburg, Georges-Köhler-Allee, 79110 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Zoe Schindler
- Chair of Forest Growth and Dendroecology, Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Freiburg, Tennenbacher Str. 4, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Julian Frey
- Chair of Forest Growth and Dendroecology, Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Freiburg, Tennenbacher Str. 4, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Maren Dubbert
- IBG, PB 1 'Landschaftsprozesse', Leibniz Zentrum für Agrarlandschaftsforschung (ZALF) e. V, Eberswalder Straße 84, 15374 Müncheberg, Germany
| | - Stefan Seeger
- Chair of Hydrology, Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Freiburg, Friedrichstraße 39, 79089 Freiburg, Germany
- Soil Physics, Department of Crop Sciences, University of Göttingen, Grisebachstraße 6, 37077 Gottingen, Germany
| | - Thomas Seifert
- Chair of Forest Growth and Dendroecology, Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Freiburg, Tennenbacher Str. 4, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
- Department of Forest and Wood Science, Stellenbosch University, Bosman Street, 7599 Stellenbosch, South Africa
| | - Markus Weiler
- Chair of Hydrology, Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Freiburg, Friedrichstraße 39, 79089 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Natalie Orlowski
- Chair of Hydrology, Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Freiburg, Friedrichstraße 39, 79089 Freiburg, Germany
- Chair of Site Ecology and Plant Nutrition, Institute of Soil Science and Site Ecology, TU Dresden, Pienner Strasse 19, Tharandt 01737, Germany
| | - Christiane Werner
- Chair of Ecosystem Physiology, Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Freiburg, Georges-Köhler-Allee, 79110 Freiburg, Germany
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Kühnhammer K, van Haren J, Kübert A, Bailey K, Dubbert M, Hu J, Ladd SN, Meredith LK, Werner C, Beyer M. Deep roots mitigate drought impacts on tropical trees despite limited quantitative contribution to transpiration. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 893:164763. [PMID: 37308023 PMCID: PMC10331952 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.164763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2023] [Revised: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 06/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Deep rooting is considered a central drought-mitigation trait with vast impact on ecosystem water cycling. Despite its importance, little is known about the overall quantitative water use via deep roots and dynamic shifts of water uptake depths with changing ambient conditions. Knowledge is especially sparse for tropical trees. Therefore, we conducted a drought, deep soil water labeling and re-wetting experiment at Biosphere 2 Tropical Rainforest. We used in situ methods to determine water stable isotope values in soil and tree water in high temporal resolution. Complemented by soil and stem water content and sap flow measurements we determined percentages and quantities of deep-water in total root water uptake dynamics of different tree species. All canopy trees had access to deep-water (max. uptake depth 3.3 m), with contributions to transpiration ranging between 21 % and 90 % during drought, when surface soil water availability was limited. Our results suggest that deep soil is an essential water source for tropical trees that delays potentially detrimental drops in plant water potentials and stem water content when surface soil water is limited and could hence mitigate the impacts of increasing drought occurrence and intensity as a consequence of climate change. Quantitatively, however, the amount of deep-water uptake was low due to the trees' reduction of sap flow during drought. Total water uptake largely followed surface soil water availability and trees switched back their uptake depth dynamically, from deep to shallow soils, following rainfall. Total transpiration fluxes were hence largely driven by precipitation input.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathrin Kühnhammer
- IGOE, Environmental Geochemistry, TU Braunschweig, Langer Kamp 19c, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany; Ecosystem Physiology, University of Freiburg, Georges-Köhler-Allee 53/54, 79110 Freiburg, Germany.
| | - Joost van Haren
- Biosphere 2, University of Arizona, 32540 S Biosphere Road, Oracle, AZ 85623, USA; Honors College, University of Arizona, 1101 E. Mabel St., Tucson, AZ 85719, USA
| | - Angelika Kübert
- Ecosystem Physiology, University of Freiburg, Georges-Köhler-Allee 53/54, 79110 Freiburg, Germany; Institute for Atmospheric and Earth System Research, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 68, Pietari Kalmin katu 5, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Kinzie Bailey
- School of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of Arizona, 1064 E Lowell St, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Maren Dubbert
- Ecosystem Physiology, University of Freiburg, Georges-Köhler-Allee 53/54, 79110 Freiburg, Germany; Isotope Biogeochemistry and Gasfluxes, ZALF, Eberswalder Straße 84, 15374 Müncheberg, Germany
| | - Jia Hu
- School of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of Arizona, 1064 E Lowell St, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - S Nemiah Ladd
- Ecosystem Physiology, University of Freiburg, Georges-Köhler-Allee 53/54, 79110 Freiburg, Germany; Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Basel, Bernoullistrasse 32, 4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Laura K Meredith
- Biosphere 2, University of Arizona, 32540 S Biosphere Road, Oracle, AZ 85623, USA; School of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of Arizona, 1064 E Lowell St, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Christiane Werner
- Ecosystem Physiology, University of Freiburg, Georges-Köhler-Allee 53/54, 79110 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Matthias Beyer
- IGOE, Environmental Geochemistry, TU Braunschweig, Langer Kamp 19c, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany
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Ma Y, Ren R, Fu H, Si B, Kinar NJ, Liu G, Steppe K. Comparing dual heat pulse methods with Péclet's number as universal switch to measure sap flow across a wide range. TREE PHYSIOLOGY 2023; 43:1691-1703. [PMID: 37216651 DOI: 10.1093/treephys/tpad071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2022] [Revised: 03/28/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Accurate determination of sap flow over a wide measurement range is important for assessing tree transpiration. However, this is difficult to achieve by using a single heat pulse method. Recent attempts have been made to combine multiple heat pulse methods and have successfully increased the sap flow measurement range. However, relative performance of different dual methods has not yet been addressed, and selection of the numerical threshold used to switch between methods has not been verified among different dual methods. This paper evaluates three different dual methods with respect to measurement range, precision and sources of uncertainty: (method 1) the heat ratio (HR) and compensation heat pulse method; (method 2) the HR and T-max method; and (method 3) the HR and double ratio method. Field experiments showed that methods 1, 2 with three needles and 3 compare well with the benchmark Sapflow+ method, having root mean square deviations of 4.7 cm h-1, 3.0 cm h-1 and 2.4 cm h-1, respectively. The three dual methods are equivalent in accuracy (P > 0.05). Moreover, all dual methods can satisfactorily measure reverse, low and medium heat pulse velocities. However, for high velocities (>100 cm h-1), the HR + T-max (method 2) performed better than the other methods. Another advantage is that this method has a three- instead of four-needle probe configuration, making it less error prone to probe misalignment and plant wounding. All dual methods in this study use the HR method for calculating low to medium flow and a different method for calculating high flow. The optimal threshold for switching from HR to another method is HR's maximum flow, which can be accurately determined from the Péclet number. This study therefore provides guidance for an optimal selection of methods for quantification of sap flow over a wide measurement range.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuchen Ma
- College of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Ludong University, Yantai 264025, China
| | - Ruiqi Ren
- College of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Ludong University, Yantai 264025, China
| | - Han Fu
- Department of Soil Science, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5A8, Canada
| | - Bingcheng Si
- College of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Ludong University, Yantai 264025, China
- Department of Soil Science, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5A8, Canada
| | - Nicholas J Kinar
- Global Institute for Water Security, Centre for Hydrology, Smart Water Systems Lab, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5A8, Canada
| | - Gang Liu
- Department of Soil and Water, College of Resources and Environment, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Kathy Steppe
- Laboratory of Plant Ecology, Department of Plants and Crops, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000 Gent, Belgium
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Beslity J, Shaw SB. Testing of a custom, portable drill press to minimize probe misalignment in sap flow sensors. TREE PHYSIOLOGY 2023; 43:1467-1477. [PMID: 37084133 DOI: 10.1093/treephys/tpad049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2022] [Revised: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
The accurate estimation of plant transpiration is critical to the fields of hydrology, plant physiology and ecology. Among the various methods of measuring transpiration in the field, the sap flow methods based on head pulses offers a cost-effective and energy-efficient option to directly measure the plant-level movement of water through the hydraulically active tissue. While authors have identified several possible sources of error in these measurements, one of the most common sources is misalignment of the sap flow probes due to user error. Though the effects of probe misalignment are well documented, no device or technique has been universally adopted to ensure the proper installation of sap flow probes. In this paper we compare the magnitude of misalignment errors among a 5 mm thick drilling template (DT), a 10 mm thick DT, and a custom designed, field-portable drill press. The different techniques were evaluated in the laboratory using a 7.5 cm wood block and in the field, comparing differences in measured sap flow. Based on analysis of holes drilled in the wood block, we found that the portable drill press was most effective in assuring that drill holes remained parallel, even at 7.5 cm depth. In field installations, nearly 50% of holes drilled with a 5 mm template needed to be redrilled while none needed to be when drilled with the drill press. Widespread use of a portable drill press when implementing the heat pulse method would minimize alignment uncertainty and allow a clearer understanding of other sources of uncertainty due to variability in tree species, age, or external drivers or transpiration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin Beslity
- Department of Environmental Resource Engineering, SUNY College of Environmental Science & Forestry Syracuse, NY 13224
| | - Stephen B Shaw
- Department of Environmental Resource Engineering, SUNY College of Environmental Science & Forestry Syracuse, NY 13224
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Wheeler WD, Black B, Bugbee B. Assessing water stress in a high-density apple orchard using trunk circumference variation, sap flow index and stem water potential. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 14:1214429. [PMID: 37600171 PMCID: PMC10435262 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1214429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2023] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023]
Abstract
Introduction Automated plant-based measurements of water stress have the potential to advance precision irrigation in orchard crops. Previous studies have shown correlations between sap flow, line variable differential transform (LVDT) dendrometers and fruit tree drought response. Here we report season-long automated measurement of maximum daily change in trunk diameter using band dendrometers and heated needles to measure a simplified sap flow index (SFI). Methods Measurements were made on two apple cultivars that were stressed at 7 to 12 day intervals by withholding irrigation until the average stem water potential (ΨStem) dropped below -1.5 MPa, after which irrigation was restored and the drought cycle repeated. Results Dendrometer measurements of maximum daily trunk shrinkage (MDS) were highly correlated (r² = 0.85) with pressure chamber measurements of stem water potential. The SFI measurements were less correlated with stem water potential but were highly correlated with evaporative demand (r² = 0.82) as determined by the Penman-Monteith equation (ETr). Discussion The high correlation of SFI to ETr suggests that high-density orchards resemble a continuous surface, unlike orchards with widely spaced trees. The correlations of MDS and SFI to ΨStem were higher during the early season than the late season growth. Band dendrometers are less labor intensive to install than LVDT dendrometers and are non-invasive so are well suited to commercialization.
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Affiliation(s)
- William D. Wheeler
- Crop Physiology Laboratory, Department of Plants, Soils, and Climate, Utah State University, Logan, UT, United States
| | - Brent Black
- Pomology Extension, Department of Plants, Soils, and Climate, Utah State University, Logan, UT, United States
| | - Bruce Bugbee
- Crop Physiology Laboratory, Department of Plants, Soils, and Climate, Utah State University, Logan, UT, United States
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Beslity J, Shaw SB, Drake JE, Fridley J, Stella JC, Stark J, Singh K. A low cost, low power sap flux device for distributed and intensive monitoring of tree transpiration. HARDWAREX 2022; 12:e00351. [PMID: 36117543 PMCID: PMC9478450 DOI: 10.1016/j.ohx.2022.e00351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2022] [Revised: 08/10/2022] [Accepted: 08/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Accurate estimation of transpiration in individual trees is important for understanding plant responses to environmental drivers, closing the water balance in forest stands and catchments, and calibrating earth system models, among other applications. However, the cost and power consumption of commercial systems based on sap flow methods still limit their usage. We developed and tested a cost-effective (<$150), simple to construct, and energy efficient sap flux device based on the heat pulse method. Energy savings were achieved by reducing the voltage of heat pulses and using an internal clock to completely shut down the device between pulses. Device accuracy was confirmed by laboratory estimates of sap flow made on excised branches of Acer saccharum and Tsuga canadensis (adjusted R2 = 0.96). In a 174-d field installation of 12 devices, batteries (eight rechargeable Ni-MH AA) needed to be replaced every 14 days. Sap flux measurements in the field tracked expected variations in vapor pressure deficit and tree phenology. The low cost, compact design, reliability, and power consumption of this device enable sap flux studies to operate with more replication and in more diverse ecological settings than has been practical in the past.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin Beslity
- SUNY College of Environmental Science & Forestry, Syracuse, NY, USA
| | - Stephen B. Shaw
- SUNY College of Environmental Science & Forestry, Syracuse, NY, USA
| | - John E. Drake
- SUNY College of Environmental Science & Forestry, Syracuse, NY, USA
| | | | - John C. Stella
- SUNY College of Environmental Science & Forestry, Syracuse, NY, USA
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Deng Z, Vice HK, Gilbert ME, Adams MA, Buckley TN. A double-ratio method to measure fast, slow and reverse sap flows. TREE PHYSIOLOGY 2021; 41:2438-2453. [PMID: 34100073 DOI: 10.1093/treephys/tpab081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2020] [Accepted: 05/31/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Sap velocity measurements are useful in fields ranging from plant water relations to hydrology at a variety of scales. Techniques based on pulses of heat are among the most common methods to measure sap velocity, but most lack ability to measure velocities across a wide range, including very high, very low and negative velocities (reverse flow). We propose a new method, the double-ratio method (DRM), which is robust across an unprecedented range of sap velocities and provides real-time estimates of the thermal diffusivity of wood. The DRM employs one temperature sensor upstream (proximal) and two sensors downstream (distal) to the source of heat. This facilitates several theoretical, heat-based approaches to quantifying sap velocity. We tested the DRM using whole-tree lysimetry in Eucalyptus cypellocarpa L.A.S. Johnson and found strong agreement across a wide range of velocities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zijuan Deng
- Centre for Carbon, Water and Food, The University of Sydney, Brownlow Hill, NSW, 2570
- College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Heather K Vice
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, Davis, CA 95616 USA
| | - Matthew E Gilbert
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, Davis, CA 95616 USA
| | - Mark A Adams
- School of Science, Faculty of Science, Engineering & Technology, Swinburne University of Technology, Victoria 3122, Australia
| | - Thomas N Buckley
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, Davis, CA 95616 USA
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