Optimization of dry-season sap flow measurements in an oak semi-arid open woodland in Spain

In sap flow studies, there is no method complying with high efficiency and versatility of sap flow measurements. To improve that, we propose combining two methods: (1) thermal dissipation probe (TDP) known to be efficient and cost effective and (2) heat field deformation (HFD) known to be versatile. For that purpose, we used a step-wise TDP sap flux density (J(p)) optimization method consisting of (1) natural temperature gradient (NTG) correction applying the cyclic heat dissipation (CHD) method, (2) night flow T-max correction using HFD data as reference and (3) radial-azimuthal correction using HFD as reference. We applied this optimization method on Quercus ilex (Q.i.) and Quercus pyrenaica (Q.p.) trees in a Spanish semi-arid open woodland during dry season. The NTG correction resulted in substantial reduction of J(p) as compared with standard TDP. The subsequent T-max night flow correction resulted in the increase of NTG-corrected J(p) and good agreement with the outermost 2cm of HFD measurements for both species. The final radial-azimuthal adjustment of TDP J(p) resulted not only, in a good agreement with HFD J(p), but also provided novel ecohydrological insights such as: (1) evidence of continuous night flow in all Q.p. trees and some Q.i. trees, (2) exponential reduction of J(p) with sapwood depth for both species, (3) significantly larger J(p) in the outermost 1cm of sapwood for Q.p. than for Q.i. and (4) high azimuthal J(p) variability for both species. The presented study offers efficient and versatile method of tree sap flow measurements that contributed to a better understanding of water-related dynamics of Q.i. and Q.p. under water-stress conditions. Copyright (c) 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.