Biologia plantarum 46:41-47, 2003 | DOI: 10.1023/A:1022301931508

Comparison Between Different Methods for Measuring Transpiration in Potted Apple Trees

G. Ferrara1, J.A. Flore2
1 Dipartimento di Biologia e Chimica Agroforestale ed Ambientale, University of Bari, Bari, Italy
2 Department of Horticulture, Michigan State University, East Lansing, USA

Five different methods for measuring transpiration, which include gravimetric analysis (control), heat pulse velocity (HPV), time domain reflectometry (TDR), single leaf and whole plant infrared gas-exchange measurements, have been tested on two cultivars (Redcort and Empire) of young apple trees (Malus communis L.). The objective was to compare these methods and establish the most affordable one to be used in greenhouse conditions in order to determine and/or estimate the amount of water for an efficient irrigation management. Results obtained with TDR were particularly accurate and not statistically different with respect to the control (-4.2 %) and this was supported by the correlation coefficient (r = 0.94) found. The HPV method was sufficiently accurate and reliable for small stems, however, in our conditions this method generally underestimated the transpiration (-32.4 %). Single leaf and particularly whole plant infrared gas-exchange measurements suffered an overestimation of the transpiration with respect to the control.

Keywords: HPV; infrared gas-exchange units; Malus communis; TDR
Subjects: apple tree, methods for measuring transpiration; cultivar differences; gravimetry, methods for measuring transpiration; heat pulse velocity, transpiration; infra-red gas analysis; Malus communis; time domain reflectometry, method for measuring transpiration; transpiration, methods for measuring

Prepublished online: March 1, 2003; Published: July 1, 2003Show citation

ACS AIP APA ASA Harvard Chicago IEEE ISO690 MLA NLM Turabian Vancouver
Ferrara, G., & Flore, J.A. (2003). Comparison Between Different Methods for Measuring Transpiration in Potted Apple Trees. Biologia plantarum, 46(1), 41-47. doi: 10.1023/A:1022301931508.
Download citation
  • BibTeX (.bib)
  • Bookends (.ris)
  • EasyBib (.ris)
  • EndNote (.enw)
  • EndNote 8 (.xml)
  • ISI WoS (.isi)
  • Medlars (.medlars)
  • Mendeley (.ris)
  • MODS (.xml)
  • Papers (.ris)
  • RefWorks (.txt)
  • RefManager (.ris)
  • RIS (.ris)
  • MS Word (.xml)
  • Zotero (.ris)
    • Open full article

    References

    1. Anisko, T., NeSmith, D.S., Lindstrom, O.M.: Time domain reflectometry for measuring water content of organic growing media in containers.-HortScience 29: 1511-1513, 1994. Go to original source...
    2. Baker, J.M.: Measurement of soil water content.-Remote Sens. Rev. 5: 263-279, 1990. Go to original source...
    3. Caspari, H.W., Behboudian, M.H., Chalmers, D.J., Renquist, A.R.: Pattern of seasonal water use of Asian pears determined by lysimeters and the heat-pulse technique.-J. amer. Soc. hort. Sci. 118: 562-569, 1993. Go to original source...
    4. Cassel, D.K., Klute, A.: Water potential: tensiometry.-In: Klute, A. (ed.): Methods of Soil Analysis. Part 1. 2nd Ed. Pp. 563-596. American Society of Agronomy, Madison 1986.
    5. Cohen, Y., Fuchs, M., Falkenflug, V., Moreshet, S.: Calibrated heat pulse method for determining water uptake in cotton.-Agron. J. 80: 398-402, 1988. Go to original source...
    6. Cohen, Y., Takeuchi, S., Nozaka, J., Yano, T.: Accuracy of sap flow measurement using heat balance and heat pulse methods.-Agron. J. 85: 1080-1086, 1993. Go to original source...
    7. Corelli Grappadelli, L., Magnanini, E.: A whole-tree system for gas-exchange studies.-HortScience 28: 41-45, 1993. Go to original source...
    8. Cowan, I.R.: Stomatal behavior and environment.-Adv. bot. Res. 4: 117-228, 1977.
    9. Dye, P.J., Olbrich, B.W., Calder, I.R.: A comparison of the heat pulse method and deuterium tracing method for measuring transpiration from Eucalyptus grandis trees.-J. exp. Bot. 43: 337-343, 1992. Go to original source...
    10. Flore, J.A., Lakso, A.N.: Environmental and physiological regulation of photosynthesis in fruit crops.-Hort. Rev. 11: 111-146, 1989. Go to original source...
    11. Flore, J.A., Sams, C.E.: Does photosynthesis limit yield of sour cherry (Prunus cerasus) "Montmorency"?-In: Lakso, A.N., Lenz, F. (ed.): The Regulation of Photosynthesis in Fruit Trees. Pp. 105-110. New York State Agr. Exp. Sta., Geneva 1986.
    12. Gardner, W.H.: Water content.-In: Klute, A. (ed.): Methods of Soil Analysis. Part 1. 2nd Ed. Pp. 493-544. American Society of Agronomy, Madison 1986.
    13. Gee, G.W., Stiver, J.F., Borchert, H.R.: Radiation hazard from americium-beryllium neutron moisture probes.-Soil Sci. Soc. Amer. J. 40: 492-494, 1976.
    14. Grantz, D.A., Perry, M.H., Meinzer, F.C.: Using time domain reflectometry to measure soil water in Hawaiian sugarcane.-Agron. J. 82: 144-146, 1990. Go to original source...
    15. Green, S.R., Clothier, B.E.: Water use of kiwifruit and apple trees by the heat pulse technique.-J. exp. Bot. 39: 115-123, 1988. Go to original source...
    16. Gucci, R., Corelli Grappadelli, L.: [Measurement of photosynthesis. 2. Fields of applications and problems related to the plant material and environmental conditions.]-Frutticoltura 12: 75-80, 1989. [In Ital.]
    17. Hall, R.L., Allen, S.J., Rosier, P.T.W., Hopkins, R.: Transpiration from coppiced poplar and willow measured using sap-flow methods.-Agr. Forest. Meteorol. 90: 275-290, 1998. Go to original source...
    18. Hatton, T.J., Catchpole, E.A., Vertessy, R.A.: Integration of sap flow velocity to estimate plant water use.-Tree Physiol. 6: 201-209, 1990. Go to original source...
    19. Hatton, T.J., Moore, S.J., Reece, P.H.: Estimating stand transpiration in a Eucalyptus populnea woodland with the heat pulse method: measurement errors and sampling strategies.-Tree Physiol. 15: 219-227, 1995. Go to original source...
    20. Hussein, I.A., McFarland, M.J.: Rootstock-induced differences in sap flow of "Granny Smith" apple.-HortScience 29: 1120-1123, 1994. Go to original source...
    21. Katerji, N., Daudet, F.A., Carbonneau, A., Ollat, N.: Photosynthesis and transpiration studies with traditionally and lyre-trained vines.-Vitis 33: 197-203, 1994.
    22. Long, S.P., Postl, W.F., Bolhàr-Nordenkampf, H.R.: Quantum yields for uptake of carbon dioxide in C3 vascular plants of contrasting habitats and taxonomic groupings.-Planta 189: 226-234, 1993. Go to original source...
    23. Long, S.P., Farage, P.K., Garcia, R.L.: Measurement of leaf and canopy photosynthetic CO2 exchange in the field.-J. exp. Bot. 47: 1629-1642, 1996. Go to original source...
    24. Marshall, D.C.: Measurement of sap flow in conifers by heat transport.-Plant Physiol. 33: 385-396, 1958. Go to original source...
    25. Miller, D.P., Howell, G.S., Flore, J.A.: A whole-plant, open, gas-exchange system for measuring net photosynthesis of potted woody plants.-HortScience 31: 344-346, 1996. Go to original source...
    26. Moon, J.W., Jr., Flore, J.A.: A BASIC computer program for calculation of photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, and related parameters in an open gas exchange system.-Photosynth. Res. 7: 260-279, 1986. Go to original source...
    27. Olbrich, B.W.: The verification of the heat pulse velocity technique for estimating sap flow in Eucalyptus grandis.-Can. J. Forest Res. 21: 836-841, 1991.
    28. Richardson, M.D., Meisner, C.A., Hoveland, C.S., Karnok, K.J.: Time domain reflectometry in closed container studies.-Agron. J. 84: 1061-1063, 1992. Go to original source...
    29. Rochette, P., Pattey, E., Desjardins, R.L., Dwyer, L.M., Stewart, D.W., Dubé, P.A.: Estimation of maize (Zea mays L.) canopy conductance by scaling up leaf stomatal conductance.-Agr. Forest Meteorol. 54: 241-261, 1991. Go to original source...
    30. Sams, C.E., Flore, J.A.: The influence of age, position, and environmental variables on net photosynthetic rate of sour cherry leaves.-J. amer. Soc. hort. Sci. 107: 339-344, 1982.
    31. Schulze, E.-D.: Whole-plant responses to drought.-Aust. J. Plant Physiol. 13: 127-141, 1986.
    32. Smith, R.E.: The heat pulse velocity technique for determining water uptake of Populus deltoides.-S. Afr. J. Bot. 58: 100-104, 1992.
    33. Smith, D.M., Allen, S.J.: Measurement of sap flow in plant stems.-J. exp. Bot. 47: 1833-1844, 1996.
    34. Stone, J.F., Shirazi, G.A.: On the heat-pulse method for measurement of apparent sap velocity in stems.-Planta 122: 169-177, 1975. Go to original source...
    35. Swanson, R.H., Whitfield, D.W.A.: A numerical analysis of heat pulse velocity theory and practice.-J. exp. Bot. 32: 221-239, 1981. Go to original source...
    36. Teskey, R.O., Sheriff, D.W.: Water use by Pinus radiata trees in a plantation.-Tree Physiol. 16: 273-279, 1996. Go to original source...
    37. Topp, G.C., Davis, J.L.: Measurement of soil water content using time-domain reflectometry (TDR): a field evaluation.-Soil Sci. Soc. Amer. J. 49: 19-24, 1985.
    38. Topp, G.C., Davis, J.L., Annan, A.P.: Electromagnetic determination of soil water content: Measurement in coaxial transmission lines.-Water Resour. Res. 16: 574-582, 1980. Go to original source...
    39. Topp, G.C., Davis, J.L., Annan, A.P.: Electromagnetic determination of soil water content using TDR: II. Evaluation of installation and configuration of parallel transmission lines.-Soil Sci. Soc. Amer. J. 46: 678-684, 1982. Go to original source...
    40. Topp, G.C., Davis, J.L., Bailey, W.G., Zebchuk, W.D.: The measurement of soil water content using a portable TDR hand probe.-Can. J. Soil Sci. 64: 313-321, 1984.
    41. Yunusa, I.A.M., Walker, R.R., Loveys, B.R., Blackmore, D.H.: Determination of transpiration in irrigated grapevines: comparison of heat-pulse technique with gravimetric and micrometeorological methods.-Irrigation Sci. 20: 1-8, 2000. Go to original source...
    42. Zegelin, S.J., White, I., Jenkins, D.R.: Improved field probes for soil-water content and electrical conductivity measurement using time domain reflectometry.-Water Resour. Res. 20: 2367-2376, 1990.

    Return to the content