Sap flow of the major tree species in the eastern mountainous region in northeast China

Abstract

This study is based on Quercus mongolica, Fraxinus mandshurica, Phellodendron amurense, Juglans mandshurica, Tilia amurensis, and Pinus koraiensis trees of the same age (12 years) and seedling origin under the same site conditions. The sap flow density, water consumption, and related environmental factors were also measured using thermal dissipation method and ICT-2000TE (Transpiration-Environment) automatic measuring system for tree transpiration and environmental factors. On clear days during the growing season, the sap flow density exhibited mono-peak diurnal patterns, mostly between 10:00 and 14:00, except for Phellodendron amurense, whose sap flow showed two peaks during the daytime three times. The photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) and vapour pressure deficit (VPD) were the major factors influencing diurnal changes in sap flow, which explained 60%–74% variations in sap flow density for all species except Phellodendron amurense. Maximum sap flow densities for F. mandshurica, Phellodendron amurense, Q. mongolica, J. mandshurica, T. amurensis, and Pinus koraiensis were 516.36, 234.00, 625.93, 945.83, 507.93, and 286.21 cm3/(cm2·h), in July, June, September, August, August, and July, respectively. Water consumption during the whole growing season for J. mandshurica, T. amurensis, F. mandshurica, Pinus koraiensis, Phellodendron amurense, and Q. mongolica was 3,840, 2,820, 2,710, 2,120, 1,470, and 1,390 kg/sapling, respectively.