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1.
应用热扩散技术对柠条锦鸡儿主根液流速率的研究 总被引：2，自引：0，他引：2
运用热扩散技术对柠条锦鸡儿根部液流速率(Fs)进行连续测定,同步进行环境要素的实时监测。选择2008年4—10月30天典型晴天日观测数据。结果表明:1)Fs在晴天日表现出典型的宽峰型正态分布,可划分为4个特征差异明显的阶段,反映了大气环境因子对液流的直接驱动效应,以及柠条锦鸡儿叶片气孔行为对液流变化的调控作用。2)液流的变化受多个环境因子共同驱动,其中潜在蒸发散(ET0)综合性强、与Fs相关紧密,是分析液流特征更为可靠的复合型环境变量。Fs与主要环境因子间的耦合关系因时段而异,在早晨启动的液流上升阶段,Fs与太阳辐射、ET0间均呈线性关系,反映了太阳辐射等因子对液流的驱动与对光合作用的激活效应,而在峰值后的下降阶段基本呈Sigmoidal-Hill函数关系;Fs随大气水分亏缺(VPD)的变化与随太阳辐射、ET0的变化趋势相反,表明VPD在达到一定值后启动气孔调节行为以及抑制过度蒸腾耗水的效应。3)柠条锦鸡儿根部Fs与主要环境要素间的变化近似同步,试验期间没有出现典型的时滞现象。4)在整个生长季的大部分时间内观测到柠条锦鸡儿根部夜间持续存在着液流现象,夜间液流量平均占全天液流量的3.83%。试验结果可例证热扩散技术在根部测定液流并用来计算灌木树种单株耗水方法的科学性与优越性。 相似文献
2.
江西千烟洲湿地松生长旺季树干液流动态及影响因素分析 总被引：4，自引：0，他引：4
运用Granier热扩散式探针对湿地松树干液流密度进行长期连续测定,并对其周围多个环境因子进行同步测定.样木解析结果表明:处于低龄期的湿地松,整个木质部都可看作边材,边材面积和胸径的关系可用二次函数很好地拟合.液流速率平均值、最大值均与胸径呈幂函数关系,相关关系的判定系数在0.99以上.湿地松生长旺季不同月份晴天液流密度日变化规律基本一致,但液流启动、到达峰值的时间以及开始升高、开始下降的时间间隔存在差异.湿地松各月液流密度日均值总体上呈逐渐减小的趋势,即6月份最高,其次为7月和8月.生长旺季边材液流密度主要受冠层温度、冠层相对湿度和光合有效辐射的影响.采用一元线性回归方程拟合液流密度与单个气象因子的相关关系,并建立液流密度与上述3个因子的多元线性回归方程,所有方程和回归系数的相关性检验均达到极显著水平.各气象因子与液流密度相关程度为冠层相对湿度＞光合有效辐射＞冠层温度. 相似文献
3.
运用热扩散技术对3株柠条主根部液流速率进行了监测,对试验期间典型晴天日(30d)液流速率的分析表明:柠条根部液流传输受大气蒸发力、冠层输出、边材面积的共同影响;1、2、3号样株边材面积分别为6.61、7.17、5.06 cm2,日平均液流总量分别为457.92、1014.66、292.12 g·d-1,日平均液流总量随边材面积的增加而增大;各样株间日平均液流总量的差异显著,而单位叶面积的液流量无显著差异;2号柠条样株的液流速率日变化动态与潜在蒸发散的相关性最强,叶面积/边材面积为0.62m2·cm-2,可以作为评定柠条单株是否具有与当地水文条件相适应的根冠比例关系的重要指标.试验期间样株根区60～140 cm内土壤平均含水量分别占田间持水量的51.04%、63.26%和87.0%,土壤水分状况较好. 相似文献
4.
采用热扩散式液流探针(TDP)结合气象站资料,观测和研究黄连木生长季节树干液流与环境因子的关系,以揭示黄连木的耗水规律.结果表明:(1)黄连木树干液流日变化呈现“几”字型,呈“宽峰”型,夜间仍保持一定液流,日耗水量为12～ 14.5 L.液流规律受天气影响:阴天较晴天时具有“窄峰”,雨天时的液流变化不大;晴天比阴天液流启动早,进入低谷晚,雨天则表现无规律;树干液流峰值大小、日均液流速度和耗水量均为晴天＞阴天＞雨天.(2)黄连木各月树干液流变化有所不同,5月份呈“单峰”型,6-8月表现为“宽峰”型,而9-10月则呈现“双峰”型;液流启动6-8月早于其他月份;液流速度峰值大小顺序为:5月＞7月＞9月＞8月＞6月＞10月,日均液流速度及耗水量大小顺序为:7月＞5月＞8月＞6月＞9月＞10月.(3)影响黄连木树干液流的主要环境因子是太阳辐射、大气温度、空气相对湿度;各月份耗水模型拟合良好,调整R2大部分达到0.89以上. 相似文献
5.
干旱条件下荆条树干液流对不同天气的响应 总被引：2，自引：0，他引：2
采用热扩散式液流探针(TDP)配合气象站的方法,于干旱季节(5—6月)对不同天气条件下荆条(Vitex negundo var.heterophylla)的树干液流进行研究。结果表明:①就波形而言,晴天树干液流呈现"宽峰",阴天呈现"窄峰",而雨天呈现"多峰";液流启动雨天早于晴天早于阴天,达到峰值晴天早于阴天早于雨天,液流终止阴天早于晴天,而雨天未出现液流终止;树干液流峰值大小、日均液流速度和耗水量均为晴天>阴天>雨天。②在晴天和阴天条件下,荆条树干液流与太阳辐射、大气温度、空气湿度的相关性较大(相关系数分别为:晴天0.768、0.882、-0.613,阴天0.864、0.865、-0.871);而雨天条件下,荆条树干液流与环境因子的相关系数均较小,但与土壤含水量的相关系数(0.515)比晴天和阴天时大,土壤含水量成为雨天影响荆条耗水最大的环境因子。③经过回归分析,得到不同天气条件下荆条的耗水模型,其中晴天和阴天荆条耗水模型拟合程度较好,调整R2分别为0.934、0.923;而雨天荆条耗水模型拟合较差,调整R2仅为0.260。 相似文献
6.
采用EMS 62包裹式植物径流测量系统连续监测非生长季(2016年9月~2017年3月)内4 a生糖槭幼树的树干液流速率的动态变化特征及其影响因素。结果表明:(1)不同月份的糖槭树干液流的日变化呈多峰型,且呈"昼高夜低"的变化趋势,夜间液流特征明显,且零液流速率持续时长不同;(2)糖槭树干液流速率在非生长季的月变化总体上呈下降趋势;(3)9月份,晴天、阴天和雨天3种天气条件下的液流速率日变化均为单峰型,其日均值大小排序为:晴天阴天雨天;(4)3种天气条件下,糖槭树体主干的液流速率均大于侧枝的,但液流峰值有差异;(5)非生长季树干液流变化均与太阳辐射和空气温度呈极显著正相关,与空气湿度和根部土壤湿度均呈极显著负相关。 相似文献
7.
以廊坊地区杨树胶合板用材林主要造林树种中林46杨和廊坊杨为研究对象,应用快速称重法和热扩散茎流计分别观测了不同杨树叶片蒸腾速率和树干液流变化特征,旨在为该地区更精确地估计生态用水定额提供科学依据,而且也可为该区域杨树胶合板材林的造林、营林及流域综合管理提供理论基础。结果表明:无论晴天还是阴天,林木叶片蒸腾速率日变化都呈现有规律的单峰曲线,晴天表现为单峰宽峰曲线,阴天为单峰窄峰曲线;树干边材液流的日变化均表现出明显的昼夜规律;树干的测定方位不同,其液流速率存在着一定差异,白天均表现出一致的规律:树干南侧液流速率>树干北侧液流速率,而夜间树干南北液流速率大小相差不大,维持在0～2cm/h上下波动。 相似文献
8.
应用热扩散式探针法对南方红壤丘陵区湿地松人工林耗水量的研究 总被引：1，自引：0，他引：1
运用Granier热扩散式探针法对湿地松(Pinus elliottii)树干液流密度进行长期连续测定,并对其周围多个气象要素和土壤要素进行同步测定。湿地松生长旺季不同月份晴天液流密度日变化规律基本一致,但液流启动、到达峰值的时间以及开始升高、开始下降的时间间隔存在差异。样木解析结果表明,处于低龄期的湿地松,整个木质部都可看作边材,边材面积和胸径可用二次函数很好地拟合。方差分析结果表明:不同胸径湿地松树干液流密度不存在显著性差异,与胸径无紧密关系。回归分析结果表明:湿地松日累计液流量与边材面积呈显著的线性相关关系,相关关系的判定系数达0.99。另外,单位边材面积日累计液流量与入选各气象因素的相关性显著,相关程度大小顺序为光合有效辐射>冠层相对湿度>冠层温度。结合边材面积-胸径回归方程和样木胸径调查资料,分别采用2种方法推算整个标准地的耗水量。经比较,2种方法所得结果差别不大,各自适用于一定的范围。 相似文献
9.
利用FLGS-TDP插针式植物茎流计,研究了阿克苏市红旗坡农场棉花试验基地中幼龄枣树树干液流的特点及其与环境因子的关系,结果表明:(1)在整个生长季的晴天,枣树树干液流的日变化呈现明显的单峰曲线;液流在10:00迅速上升,在14:00左右达到高峰,17:30又迅速下降;日累计液流为1.43 L/d,白天液流量占全天的91.19%～98.07%,晚上占1.93%～8.81%;由于夜间空气温度的缓慢上升,枣树在夜间有微弱上升液流。(2)4月份液流量最小为7.18 L,7月份最大为29.85 L,4月的累计流量仅为7月的23.96%。(3)生长季液流速率与环境因子逐步回归分析表明,树干液流受环境因子的综合影响,在日变化中大小依次是净辐射、总辐射、空气温度、风速和相对湿度,相关系数为0.68,决定系数为0.48;在季变化中影响大小依次为空气温度、总辐射、净辐射、相对湿度和风速,相关系数和决定系数都是0.89。 相似文献
10.
应用热扩散技术测定帽儿山不同径级水曲柳样木生长季的树干液流,初步分析和对比优势木、中等木和被压木树干液流密度的特征及季节变化趋势。结果表明,水曲柳树干液流密度变化具有明显的昼夜节律性,中等木液流密度变化呈单峰曲线,被压木液流密度变化曲线近似梯形,优势木液流密度变化呈弧形曲线,水曲柳中等木液流密度明显大于被压木和优势木。不同天气条件下液流密度日变化规律大不相同,阴雨天液流密度值较小且变化曲线十分不规则,波动性较大,甚至出现多峰曲线。生长季,优势木和被压木日液流通量最大值均出现在7月初至8月耒,分剐为1032．481／（m^2·d）和l063．78I／（m^2·d）;中等木液流通量最大值出现在6月初至6月末,为2260．911／（m^2·d）;优势木和被压木日液流通量最小值出现在9月份,中等木日液流通量最小值出现在生长季未期。,随季节推移,生长季各月份液流密度均值基本逐渐减小,进入生长季末期（10月）基本处于微弱渡动状态。水曲柳优势木和被压木6月份和9月份液流密度平均值均小于中等木,7月份和8月份液流密度月平均值非常接近;中等木液流密度平均值6月份最大,优势木和被压木的液流密度最大月均值出现在7月份, 相似文献
11.
Tomonori Kume Yuka Onozawa Hikaru Komatsu Kenji Tsuruta Yoshinori Shinohara Toshihiro Umebayashi Kyoichi Otsuki 《Forest Ecology and Management》2010
The applicability of sap flux (Fd) measurements to bamboo forests has not been studied. This study was undertaken to establish an optimal and effective design for stand-scale transpiration (E) estimates in a Moso bamboo forest. To this aim, we validated Fd measurements in Moso bamboos in a cut bamboo experiment. In addition, we analyzed how sample sizes affect the reliability of E estimates calculated from Fd and conducting culm area (AS_b). In the cut bamboo experiments, we found that Fd measurement using a 10 mm probe was a valid means of determining the water-use behavior of a Moso bamboo, although a specific correction was needed. Furthermore, we calculated E from stand AS_b (AS_stand) and mean stand Fd (JS). Employing Monte Carlo analysis, we examined potential errors associated with sample size in E, AS_stand, and JS using an original dataset with AS_b and Fd measured for 40 and 16 individuals, respectively. Consequently, we determined the optimal sample size for both AS_stand and JS estimates as 11. The optimal sample sizes for JS were almost the same under different vapor pressure deficit and soil moisture conditions. The optimal sample size for JS at the study site was less than that of a coniferous plantation in the same region probably owing to small individual-to-individual variations in sap flux in the Moso bamboo forest. Our study concludes that sap flux measurements are an applicable technique for assessing water use in Moso bamboo forests. 相似文献
12.
Xiaoyan Xu Ling Tong Fusheng Li Shaozhong Kang Yanping Qu 《Journal of Forest Research》2011,16(2):144-152
Populus alba L. var. pyramidalis Bge. (Populus) is a main tree of the farmland shelter-belt system in the arid region of Northwest China. However, soil moisture cannot
satisfy the water requirements of normal Populus growth under local natural conditions, thus studying the transpiration characteristics of irrigated Populus and its relationship with the environmental factors and growth parameters is very important to the growth of the trees in
this region. In this study, the sap flow of two irrigated Populus trees was measured during May to September from 2005 to 2008 using the heat-pulse technique. The results show that the maximum
and minimum daily sap fluxes in Populus were 15.7–24.0 and 3.0–4.0 L day−1, respectively. And the sum of sap fluxes from June to August accounted for approximately 63–69% of the total sap flux during
May to September (almost the whole growing season). The order of the meteorological factors affecting the daily sap flux of
Populus was: vapor pressure deficit > solar radiation > mean air temperature > wind speed. Furthermore, a highly linear relationship
between the ratio of daily sap flux to the reference evapotranspiration (SF/ET0) and the amount of soil water in the 0–2.0 m layer was found, indicating that the amount of soil water at this layer was
quite important to the growth of Populus in this region. Especially, the amount of soil water in the 0.5–1.0 m soil layer contributed to most of the plant transpiration
as the highest coefficient of determination at this layer. Based on the environmental factors and leaf area index influencing
sap flux, an empirical transpiration model was constructed to estimate daily transpiration. 相似文献
13.
We estimated water use by the two main oak species of the Lower Galilee region of Israel—Tabor (Quercus ithaburensis) and Kermes (Quercus calliprinos)—to develop management options for climate-change scenarios. The trees were studied in their typical phytosociological associations on different bedrock formations at two sites with the same climatic conditions. Using the heat-pulse method, sap flow velocity was measured in eight trunks (trees) of each species during a number of periods in 2001, 2002 and 2003. Hourly sap flux was integrated to daily transpiration per tree and up-scaled to transpiration at the forest canopy level. The annual courses of daytime transpiration rate were estimated using fitted functions, and annual totals were calculated. Sap flow velocity was higher in Tabor than in Kermes oak, and it was highest in the youngest xylem, declining with depth into the older xylem. Average daytime transpiration rate was 67.9 ± 4.9 l tree−1 d−1, or 0.95 ± 0.07 mm d−1, for Tabor oak, and 22.0 ± 1.7 l tree−1d−1, or 0.73 ± 0.05 mm d−1, for Kermes oak. Differences between the two oak species in their forest canopy transpiration rates occurred mainly between the end of April and the beginning of October. Annual daytime transpiration was estimated to be 244 mm year−1 for Tabor oak and 213 mm year−1 for Kermes oak. Adding nocturnal water fluxes, estimated to be 20% of the daytime transpiration, resulted in total annual transpiration of 293 and 256 mm year−1 by Tabor and Kermes oaks, respectively. These amounts constituted 51% and 44%, respectively, of the 578 mm year−1 average annual rainfall in the region. The two species differed in their root morphology. Tabor oak roots did not penetrate the bedrock but were concentrated along the soil–rock interface within soil pockets. In contrast, the root system of Kermes oak grew deeper via fissures and crevices in the bedrock system and achieved direct contact with the deeper bedrock layers. Despite differences between the two sites in soil–bedrock lithological properties, and differences in the woody structure, annual water use by the two forest types was fairly similar. Because stocking density of the Tabor oak forests is strongly related to bedrock characteristics, thinning as a management tool will not change partitioning of the rainfall between different soil pockets, and hence soil water availability to the trees. In contrast, thinning of Kermes oak forests is expected to raise water availability to the remaining trees. 相似文献
14.
Diurnal and seasonal variability in radial distribution of sap flux density: Implications for estimating stand transpiration 总被引：3，自引：0，他引：3
Daily and seasonal patterns in radial distribution of sap flux density were monitored in six trees differing in social position in a mixed coniferous stand dominated by silver fir (Abies alba Miller) and Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst) in the Alps of northeastern Italy. Radial distribution of sap flux was measured with arrays of 1-cm-long Granier probes. The radial profiles were either Gaussian or decreased monotonically toward the tree center, and seemed to be related to social position and crown distribution of the trees. The ratio between sap flux estimated with the most external sensor and the mean flux, weighted with the corresponding annulus areas, was used as a correction factor (CF) to express diurnal and seasonal radial variation in sap flow. During sunny days, the diurnal radial profile of sap flux changed with time and accumulated photosynthetic active radiation (PAR), with an increasing contribution of sap flux in the inner sapwood during the day. Seasonally, the contribution of sap flux in the inner xylem increased with daily cumulative PAR and the variation of CF was proportional to the tree diameter, ranging from 29% for suppressed trees up to 300% for dominant trees. Two models were developed, relating CF with PAR and tree diameter at breast height (DBH), to correct daily and seasonal estimates of whole-tree and stand sap flow obtained by assuming uniform sap flux density over the sapwood. If the variability in the radial profile of sap flux density was not accounted for, total stand transpiration would be overestimated by 32% during sunny days and 40% for the entire season. 相似文献
15.
华北石质山区乔、灌木耗水特征比较 总被引：1，自引：0，他引：1
本研究采用热扩散式液流探针（TDP）法对华北石质山区黄连木、刺槐、酸枣、荆条的树干液流进行了监测。结果表明：（1）4树种的树干液流均呈现＂几＂字形,其中黄连木呈单峰型,刺槐呈宽峰型,酸枣荆条呈波动状;液流启动黄连木的最早,酸枣和荆条的居中,刺槐最晚;液流停滞黄连木和刺槐晚于酸枣和荆条;液流速度大小为：黄连木〉酸枣〉荆条〉刺槐,日均耗水量为：黄连木〉刺槐〉酸枣〉荆条。（2）4树种树干液流变化阴天时要比晴天时平缓,液流启动晴天早于阴天,而停滞则晴天晚于阴天。（3）不同树干直径的各树种树干液流变化波形基本一致;黄连木树干液流直径大的启动晚,而停滞早,而刺槐则相反;酸枣和荆条不同直径的液流启动与停滞时间几乎一致;除刺槐外,各树种树干液流速度均表现为直径大的小于直径小的,而刺槐则相反;各树种日均耗水量均表现树干直径大的耗水量大。 相似文献
16.
[目的]通过对比研究,明确晚霜冻害对苹果树生长季水分利用能力影响的程度与机理。[方法]利用热扩散技术(TDP)对黄土区苹果树未发生霜冻年和霜冻年主要生长季边材液流速率(J_s)开展连续监测,并同步观测净辐射(R_n)、气温(T_a)等气象因子,计算大气水分亏缺(VPD)等变量。通过对比、相关分析阐明晚霜冻害对苹果树水分利用能力的影响。[结果]霜冻发生后,当日午间液流速率最大值(J_(s-max))比霜冻前数日内的最大值降低9%～27%,苹果树水分利用能力(J_(s-max)/VPD)在霜冻后的数日内连续下降。霜冻后当年(2018)生长季平均液流速率比未发生霜冻年(2017)同期下降35%。在整个生长季内,液流速率日平均值(J_(s-mean))与R_n、VPD均具有显著的指数关系,但在相同的R_n或VPD水平下,霜冻年的J_(s-mean)显著低于未发生霜冻年。[结论]严重低温霜冻和霜冻后快速升温共同导致了苹果树生长季水分利用能力的显著下降。研究结果为认识霜冻对苹果树水分生理的影响机制提供了理论支撑。 相似文献
17.
《Forest Ecology and Management》1997,99(3):309-326
Single Scots pines (Pinus sylvestris L.), aged 20–25 years, were grown in open-top chambers and exposed to elevated temperature (Elev. T), elevated CO2 (Elev. C) and a combination of elevated CO2 and temperature (Elev. C + T) for 4 years. The vertical distribution of needle nitrogen concentration was measured simultaneously with gas exchange of attached shoots. Based on the measurements, the dependencies on needle nitrogen concentrations of four photosynthetic parameters, i.e., RuP2 (ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate)-saturated rate of carboxylation (Vcmax), maximum potential electron transport (Jmax), the rate of respiration in the light (Rd) and light-use-efficiency factor (δ), were determined. Using a crown multilayer model, the performance of daily crown photosynthesis in Scots pine was predicted. Compared to the control treatment, the mean concentration of nitrogen in the foliage decreased by 20% and by 17% for trees grown under Elev. C and under Elev. C + T, respectively, but increased by 4% for trees grown under Elev. T. However, the total content of foliage nitrogen per unit ground area increased by 25% for trees grown under Elev. C, by 19% for trees grown under Elev. C + T and by 6% for trees grown under Elev. T; these were due to the increase in the total needle area index. Regressions showed that the foliage grown under Elev. C and Elev. C + T had steeper slopes representing the responses of Vcmax, Rd and δ to leaf nitrogen concentrations, while Elev. C + T and Elev. T had steeper slopes representing the response of Jmax to needle nitrogen concentrations. Predictions showed that, on a typical sunny day, the daily total of crown photosynthesis increased 22% and 27%, separately for Elev. C and Elev. C + T, and by only 9% for Elev. T alone. Furthermore, the increased daily crown photosynthesis, resulting from treatments involving elevated CO2, can be attributed mainly to an increase in the ambient CO2 concentration and the needle area index, while modification of the intrinsic photosynthetic capacity had only a marginal effect. Based on the current pattern of crown nitrogen allocation, the prediction showed also that the relationship between daily crown photosynthesis and crown nitrogen content was strongly dependent on the daily incident PAR and air temperature. The CO2-elevated treatments led to an increase in the sensitivity of daily crown photosynthesis to changes in crown nitrogen content, daily incident PAR and temperature, while the temperature-elevated treatment had the opposite effect on the sensitivity. 相似文献
18.
Evaluation of transpiration in a Douglas-fir stand by means of sap flow measurements 总被引：60，自引：0，他引：60
Granier A 《Tree physiology》1987,3(4):309-320
Transpiration of a Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) stand was evaluated by sap flow measurements during a 4-month period. Between-tree variation in sap flow depended on crown class. On a sunny day, total transpiration was 1.6, 8.0 and 22.0 liters day(-1) for suppressed, codominant and dominant trees, respectively. Transpiration estimated by sap flow fell below potential evapotranspiration when available soil water decreased below 30% of its maximum value. Sap flow measurements gave transpiration values similar to those obtained by the water balance method. 相似文献
19.
Hua Wang Ping Zhao Quan Wang Xian Cai Ling Ma Xingquan Rao Xiaoping Zeng 《Frontiers of Forestry in China》2008,3(1):72-78
In this paper, we studied the nocturnal stem water recharge of Acacia mangium. It is helpful to improve the precision of canopy transpiration estimation and canopy stomatal conductance, and to further
understand the lag time of canopy transpiration to stem sap flow. In this study, the whole-tree sap flow in an A. mangium forest was measured by using Granier’s thermal dissipation probe for over two years in the hilly land of South China. The
environmental factors, including relative humidity (RH), precipitation, vapor pressure deficit (VPD), photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), and air temperature (T
a) were recorded simultaneously. The stem water recharge of A. mangium was analyzed on both daily and monthly scales. Sap flux density was lower at night than during the day. The time range of
nighttime sap flux density was longer in the dry season than in the wet season. The water recharging mainly occurred from
sunset to midnight. No significant differences were observed among inter-annual nighttime water recharges. Nighttime water
recharge had no significant correlation with environmental factors, but was well correlated with the diameter at breast height,
tree height, and crown size. In the dry season the contribution of nighttime water recharge to total transpiration had significant
correlations with daytime transpiration, total transpiration, VPD, PAR and T
a, while in the wet season it was significantly correlated with daily transpiration and total transpiration.
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Translated from Chinese Journal of Ecology, 2007, 26(4): 476–482 [译自: 生态学杂志] 相似文献
20.
Tree thinning reduces tree-to-tree competition and likely contributes to the improvement of tree water status and productivity in water-limited systems. In this study, we examined the importance of competition for water among Quercus ilex trees in open woodlands by comparing the water consumption and physiological status of trees located along stand density gradients which ranged from 10% (low density; LD) to 100% (high density; HD) of canopy cover. The study was carried out at two sites which differed in mean annual rainfall (506 and 816 L m−2; Dsite and Wsite, respectively). Predawn and midday leaf water potential (ψd and ψm, respectively) and CO2 assimilation rate (A) were measured every two weeks from mid May to mid September, in eight trees located along a stand density gradient at each site. Sap flow and soil moisture were measured only at Dsite. Sap flow was continuously recorded by sap flowmeters (constant heating method) installed in 12 trees along two stand density gradients. Soil moisture (?) was measured every 20 cm for the first meter and then every 50 cm up to 250 cm. Measurements were conducted in 18 soil profiles, 6 located in HD and 12 in LD (six beneath and six out the canopy). At Wsite, differences among stand densities for ψ and A were very small and emerged only at the end of the dry season. At Dsite, ψ (both predawn and midday), A, ?, and sap flow density were significantly higher in LD trees than in HD ones. At Dsite, some water remained unused in the soil at the end of the dry season beyond the canopy in the LD areas, and trees did not experienced such an acute water deficit (ψd > −1 MPa) as the HD trees did (ψd < −3 MPa). Summer tree transpiration at the stand level (Estand) tended to saturate with the increase of canopy cover. Estand increases by 32% when canopy cover goes from 50% to 100%. Results confirmed that the increase of tree-to-tree competition with stand density was much more significant at dry sites. In these sites, tree thinning is recommended as a way to maintain tree functioning. 相似文献