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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Davis, California » Crops Pathology and Genetics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #264980

Title: Measuring sap flow in plants

Author
item BLEBY, TIMOTHY - University Of Western Australia
item McElrone, Andrew

Submitted to: CSIRO Australia Griffith NSW
Publication Type: Literature Review
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/1/2011
Publication Date: 10/1/2011
Citation: Bleby, T.M., Mcelrone, A.J. 2011. Measuring sap flow in plants. CSIRO Australia Griffith NSW. None.

Interpretive Summary: Sap flow measurements provide a powerful tool for quantifying plant water use and monitoring qualitative physiological reponses of plants to environmental conditions. As such, sap flow methods are widely employed to investigate the agronomic, ecological, and hydrological outcomes of plant growth. The following summary provides an overview of thermodynamic sap flow measurement techniques used to quantify volumetric water use in plants. A variety of sap flow techniques have been described in the literature, but here we will focus on the most commonly used methods suitable for measuring sap flow in stems, branches and roots of woody and herbaceous plants.

Technical Abstract: Sap flow measurements provide a powerful tool for quantifying plant water use and monitoring qualitative physiological responses of plants to environmental conditions. As such, sap flow methods are widely employed to invesitgate the agronomic, ecological and hydrological outcomes of plant growth. The following summary provides an overview of thermodynamic sap flow measurement techniques used to quantify volumetric water use in plants. A variety of sap flow techniques have been described in the literature, but here we will focus on the most commonly used methods suitable for measuring sap flow in stems, branches and roots of woody and herbaceous plants.