Sap Flow of Abies georgei var. smithii and Its Relationship with the Environment Factors in the Tibetan Subalpine Region, China

Abies georgei var. smithii is a dominant species playing an important role in protecting biodiversity and sustaining the forestry ecosystems in Southeastern Tibetan Plateau. Stem sap flows of five different diameters at the breast height(DBH) A. georgei var. smithii samples were monitored continuously with the thermal dissipation probe for the entire growing period in order to understand the water transportation mechanism and the effects of environmental factors on its transpiration and growth. Relative environment factors, temperature and humidity of air, photosynthetically active radiation, rainfall, and wind speed, soil moisture, etc. were measured by the automatic weather stations. Diurnal and seasonal variations in sap flow rate with the different stem diameters and their correlations with meteorological factors were analyzed. The diurnal change in sap flow velocity showed a single-peak curve at the daily time scale, whereas a lower sap flow velocity can be observed in the largest DBH sample tree at night. The maximum average velocity was observed in August, whereas the minimum velocity was observed in January, and a large amount of water evaporated in summer owing to the higher sap flow velocity. In addition, sap flow velocity was closely related to changes in the micrometeorological factors, with average sap flow velocity showing significant linear correlations with air temperature, photosynthetically active radiation, rainfall, and vapor pressure deficit of air and soil moisture. Therefore, some measures, improving the light and temperature conditions, should be taken for protecting A. georgei var. smithii population in the Tibetan Plateau.

Relationship between effective solar radiation and sap flow process during an entire growing season in Western Mountains of Beijing

In order to explore the relationship between the time processes of solar radiation and sap flow, sap flow velocity （SFV） of Platycladus orientalis and Pinus tabulaeformis, effective solar radiation （ESR） and other environmental factors were synchronously monitored for one year in the Beijing Western Mountains by using a thermal dissipation probe （TDP） system and an automatic weather station. Results showed significant differences between changes in diurnal characteristics of ESR and sap flow in sunny days during three seasons. Starting times of sap flow occurred generally 1.5-3 hours later than those of solar radiation and there were small differences between Platycladus orientalis and Pinus tabulaeformis. But peak times and stopping times of sap flow varied considerably with large contrasts in ESR. The duration of sap flow showed clear differences among the seasons owing to the variable rhythms of climate factors in Beijing. Fluctuation amplitude in the duration of sap flow remained relatively stable during the autumn but changed greatly during spring and summer. Changes in diurnal sap flow velocity of both Platycladus orientalis and Pinus tabulaeformis were about 0-3 hours later than those of ESR but with the same configuration. The start of sap flow was mainly induced by the sudden intensification of ESR （sunrise effect）. Seasonal models of SFV indicated that a cubic equation had the best fit. It was more practical to simulate seasonal water consumption models of trees with ESR. In further investigations, these models should be optimized.

Sap Flow of Populus euphratica in a Desert Riparian Forest in an Extreme Arid Region During the Growing Season

In the present study, the heat pulse technique was applied to investigate the stem sap flow of Populus euphratica in a desert riparian forest in an extreme arid region from April to October 2003 and from May to October 2004. The experimental sites were in Qidaoqiao （101 °10′ E, 41°59′ N） and Bayantaolai farm （101°14′ E, 42°01′ N） in Ejina county, in the low reaches of the Heihe River, China. The results indicated that the diurnal change in the velocity of sap flow showed minor fluctuations. At night, the rising of sap flow could be observed in the main tree species because of root pressure. During the growing season, the maximum average velocity was observed in July, followed by August, and the same velocity was observed in September and May; the minimum velocity was observed in October. The transpiration from June to August during the growing season accounted for approximately 70% of the annual total transpiration. The sap flow velocity of P. euphratica trees of different ages could be arranged in the order： 15 yr 〉 25 yr 〉 50 yr. Sap flow velocity was closely related to changes in micrometeorological factors, with average sap flow velocity showing a significant linear correlation with net radiation, air temperature and relative humidity.

Peach yield and fruit quality is maintained under mild deficit irrigation in semi-arid China

We conducted a two-year study of deficit irrigation impact on peach yield and quality in semi-arid northwest China. Over two years, four-year-old peach trees were irrigated at 100, 75, 50 and 25% of peach evapotranspiration （ETc）, here, ETc= Coefficient （Kc）×Local reference evapotranspiration （ET0）. During the April-July fruit production season we measured root zone soil water depletion, sap flow velocity, net photosynthetic rate （Pn）, transpiration rate （Tr）, stomatal conductance （Gs）, water use efficiency （WUE=Pn/Tr）, fruit quality, and yield under a mobile rain-out shelter. Increased soil water depletion reasonably mirrored decreasing irrigation rates both years, causing progressively greater water stress. Progressive water stress lowered Gs, which in turn translated into lower T as measured by sap flow. However, mild deficit irrigation （75% ETc） constricted T more than Pn. Pn was not different between 100 and 75% ETc treatments in both years, and it decreased only 5-8% in June with higher temperature than that in May with cooler temperature. Concurrently under 75% ETc treatment, was reduced, and WUE was up to 13% higher than that under 100% ETc treatment. While total fruit yield was not different under the two treatments, because 75% ETc treatment had fewer but larger fruit than 100% ETc trees, suggesting mild water stress thinned fruit load. By contrast, sharply decreased T and Pn of the driest treatments （50 and 25% ETo） increased WUE, but less carbon uptake impacted total fruit yield, resulting 13 and 33% lower yield compared to that of 100% ETc treatment. Irrigation rates affected fruit quality, particularly between the 100 and 75% ETc trees. Fewer but larger fruit in the mildly water stressed trees （75% ETc） resulted in more soluble solids and vitamin C, firmer fruit, and improved sugar：acid ratio and fruit color compared to the 100% ETo treatment. Overall, trees deficit irrigated at 75% ETc maintained yield while improving fruit quality and using less water.