I would like to know whether just a simple and single measurement system like sap flow meter with TDP or other probes is enough for monitoring the water consumption rate of tree crops like apple, rubber, mango etc.
Dear Annamalai,
Yes a sap flow system such as the SFM1 Sap Flow Meter will do this for you.
http://www.ictinternational.com/products/sfm1/sfm1-sap-flow-meter/
I have attached a publication where we did exactly this for 3 species of Eucalyptus. When measuring sap flow it is important to consider that sap movement can travel upwards in the tree stem as well as downwards. It is important to have a measurement system which can measure bi-directional and even radial patterns of flow.
You can also see a range of sap flow case studies here:
http://www.ictinternational.com/casestudies/plants/sap-flow/
Michael
Sap flow velocity is easier to obtain than whole plant water use unless you measure flows across the entire active xylem. Before choosing this method, find out how others deal with up scaling (I have some papers on that). Apple and mango will be much easier than rubber. Here is one publication that might help.
Article Monitoring of sap flow, leaf water potential, stomatal condu...
- Badges
- Science topic
- Similar topics
- Biological Science
- Botany
- Plant Biology