Data from: Five-year timeseries of sap-flux-scaled transpiration reveals inter-annual variation between tree water use and precipitation in a pinyon and juniper woodland

Authors: Snyder, Keirith; BUSH, SUSAN - Desert Botanical Garden

Submitted to: Dataset
Publication Type: Database / Dataset
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/9/2025
Publication Date: 6/9/2025
Citation: Snyder, K.A., Bush, S. 2025. Data from: Five-year timeseries of sap-flux-scaled transpiration reveals inter-annual variation between tree water use and precipitation in a pinyon and juniper woodland. Dataset. https://doi.org/10.15482/USDA.ADC/29175224.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.15482/USDA.ADC/29175224

Interpretive Summary: The USDA ARS conducted a five-year study of transpirational water use of single-leaf pinyon (Pinus monopylla) and Utah juniper (Juniperus osteosperma) at the Porter Canyon Experimental Watershed in the Great Basin of Nevada, USA. A total of 29 pinyon and 16 juniper trees that were representative of the natural size-class variation within the PCEW were selected for long-term sap flow measurements. All trees were instrumented with two sets of 2 cm Granier-style thermal dissipation sap flow probes, as tree core measurements obtained in late 2011 indicated that sapwood depth was greater than 2 cm on average for all trees. Two sets of probes were installed radially into the xylem at approximately north-south orientation, depending on branch architecture, and spaced 15 cm axially with the top probe approximately 50 cm above the ground. This dataset is comprised of seven .CSV files covering the five-year period. The five-year period encompassed five water years from October 31st , 2013 to October 31st of 2018. The dataset includes measurements of mean daily vapor pressure deficit, solar radiation, and volumetric water content at 20 cm. The data set also includes mean daily sap flux density, mean daily whole tree sap flow, mean daily water use per basal area, and cumulative site water use. Lastly, the dataset includes the relationship of sap flux density to vapor pressure deficit when soil volumetric water content was not limiting and when soil volumetric water content was limiting.

Technical Abstract: The USDA ARS conducted a five-year study of transpirational water use of single-leaf pinyon (Pinus monopylla) and Utah juniper (Juniperus osteosperma) at the Porter Canyon Experimental Watershed in the Great Basin of Nevada, USA. A total of 29 pinyon and 16 juniper trees that were representative of the natural size-class variation within the PCEW were selected for long-term sap flow measurements. All trees were instrumented with two sets of 2 cm Granier-style thermal dissipation sap flow probes, as tree core measurements obtained in late 2011 indicated that sapwood depth was greater than 2 cm on average for all trees. Two sets of probes were installed radially into the xylem at approximately north-south orientation, depending on branch architecture, and spaced 15 cm axially with the top probe approximately 50 cm above the ground. This dataset is comprised of seven .CSV files covering the five-year period. The five-year period encompassed five water years from October 31st , 2013 to October 31st of 2018. The dataset includes measurements of mean daily vapor pressure deficit, solar radiation, and volumetric water content at 20 cm. The data set also includes mean daily sap flux density, mean daily whole tree sap flow, mean daily water use per basal area, and cumulative site water use. Lastly, the dataset includes the relationship of sap flux density to vapor pressure deficit when soil volumetric water content was not limiting and when soil volumetric water content was limiting.