Accurately estimating sapwood area is essential for modelling whole-tree or stand-scale transpiration from point-flow sap-flux observations. In this study, we tested the validity of electrical resistance tomography (ERT) to locate the sapwood-heartwood (SW/HW) interface for two ring porous (Quercus nigra L. and Quercus virginiana Mill.) and one diffuse porous (Acer rubrum L.) species. Estimates derived from the ERT analyses were compared with the SW/HW interface measured following dye perfusion testing. The ERT results revealed spatial variation in electrical resistance, with higher resistivity in the inner part of the cross sections. Regression analyses showed that ERT was able to accurately account for 97% and 80% of the variation in sapwood area (calculated as R2) for Q. virginiana (n = 19) and Q. nigra (n = 7), respectively, and 56% of the variation in the diffuse porous species (n = 8). Root mean square error (RMSE) values for sapwood areas of the ring porous species were 11.12 cm2 (19%) and 25.98 cm2 (33%) for Q. virginiana and Q. nigra, respectively. Sapwood area estimates for diffuse wood carried greater error (RMSE = 33.52 cm2 (131%)). Model bias for all sapwood area estimates was negative, suggesting that ERT had a tendency to overestimate sapwood areas. Electrical resistance tomography proved to be a significant predictor of sapwood area in the three investigated species, although it was more reliable for ring porous wood. In addition to the results, a comprehensive code sequence for use with R statistical software is provided, so that other investigators may follow the same method.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/treephys/tpy092DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

sapwood area
24
ring porous
16
resistance tomography
12
electrical resistance
12
sapwood
8
sw/hw interface
8
diffuse porous
8
virginiana nigra
8
porous species
8
error rmse
8

Similar Publications

Relationship between wind speed and plant hydraulics at the global scale.

Nat Ecol Evol

January 2025

ARC Centre for Plant Success in Nature & Agriculture, Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

Wind is an important ecological factor for plants as it can increase evapotranspiration and cause dehydration. However, the impact of wind on plant hydraulics at a global scale remains unclear. Here we compiled plant key hydraulic traits, including water potential at 50% loss of hydraulic conductivity (P), xylem-specific hydraulic conductivity (K), leaf area to sapwood area ratio (A/A) and conduit diameter (D) with 2,786 species-at-site combinations across 1,922 woody species at 469 sites worldwide and analysed their correlations with wind speed.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

This study conducted a comparative analysis on the effects of smart automatic and semi-automatic irrigation methods on the physiological characteristics and growth of × Matsum. seedlings. The smart automatic irrigation system, which activates irrigation when the soil moisture drops below 15%, demonstrated superior characteristics in sap-wood area and bark ratio, as well as excellent water management efficiency, compared to the semi-automatic irrigation method, which involves watering (2.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

First Report of Diplodia Shoot Blight and Canker Disease Caused by on Ponderosa Pine in Colorado, USA.

Plant Dis

November 2024

Colorado State University, Department of Agricultural Biology, 1177 Campus Delivery, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States, 80523;

Article Synopsis
  • Diplodia shoot blight and canker disease (DSB) is caused by the fungal pathogen Diplodia sapinea and primarily affects 2-3 needled pines, such as ponderosa pine, resulting in various symptoms including necrotic needles, cankers, and dieback.
  • The pathogen can exist without visible symptoms in trees, making it difficult to detect, and outbreaks are more common in stressed environments like nurseries and seed orchards.
  • Although D. sapinea has not been previously reported in Colorado, studies confirmed its presence and pathogenicity after observing symptoms in ponderosa pines in Wyoming in 2018 and discovering symptomatic trees in Colorado in 2021.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Hydraulic traits exert greater limitations on tree-level maximum sap flux density than photosynthetic ability: Global evidence.

Sci Total Environ

December 2024

College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha, Hunan 410004, China; Huitong National Station for Scientific Observation and Research of Chinese Fir Plantation Ecosystems in Hunan Province, Huitong, Hunan 438107, China. Electronic address:

Transpiration is a key process that couples the land-atmosphere exchange of water and carbon, and its maximum water transport ability affects plant productivity. Functional traits significantly influence the maximum transpiration rate; however, which factor plays the dominant role remains unknown. SAPFLUXNET dataset, which includes sap flux density of diverse species worldwide, provides fundamental data to test the importance of photosynthetic and hydraulic traits on maximum tree-level sap flux density (J).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Azimuthal and radial variations in sap flow and its effects on the estimation of transpiration for .

Ying Yong Sheng Tai Xue Bao

September 2024

Baiyinaobao National Nature Reserve Management Administration, Chifeng 025300, Inner Mongolia, China.

In this study, we applied thermal dissipation probe technology to examine sap flow in various directions (east, south, west, and north) and at different depths (0-2, 2-4, 4-6 cm) within the stem of natural trees in the eastern of Otindag Sandy Land to provide a scientific basis for accurately quantifying water consumption of forests through transpiration and to enhance the understanding of water relations. The results showed that the diurnal variation of sap flow in different directions displayed a unimodal curve, with the sap flow sequence being south>east>west>north. The sap flow at different sapwood depths exhibited an obvious unimodal curve, with a significant decrease as sapwood depth increased.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!