Assessing water stress in a high-density apple orchard using trunk circumference variation, sap flow index and stem water potential
IntroductionAutomated plant-based measurements of water stress have the potential to advance precision irrigation in orchard crops. Previous studies have shown correlations between sap flow, line variable differential transform (LVDT) dendrometers and fruit tree drought response. Here we report seas...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-08-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Plant Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2023.1214429/full |
| _version_ | 1797755426507325440 |
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| author | William D. Wheeler Brent Black Bruce Bugbee |
| author_facet | William D. Wheeler Brent Black Bruce Bugbee |
| author_sort | William D. Wheeler |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionAutomated plant-based measurements of water stress have the potential to advance precision irrigation in orchard crops. Previous studies have shown correlations between sap flow, line variable differential transform (LVDT) dendrometers and fruit tree drought response. Here we report season-long automated measurement of maximum daily change in trunk diameter using band dendrometers and heated needles to measure a simplified sap flow index (SFI).MethodsMeasurements were made on two apple cultivars that were stressed at 7 to 12 day intervals by withholding irrigation until the average stem water potential (ΨStem) dropped below -1.5 MPa, after which irrigation was restored and the drought cycle repeated.ResultsDendrometer measurements of maximum daily trunk shrinkage (MDS) were highly correlated (r² = 0.85) with pressure chamber measurements of stem water potential. The SFI measurements were less correlated with stem water potential but were highly correlated with evaporative demand (r² = 0.82) as determined by the Penman-Monteith equation (ETr).DiscussionThe high correlation of SFI to ETr suggests that high-density orchards resemble a continuous surface, unlike orchards with widely spaced trees. The correlations of MDS and SFI to ΨStem were higher during the early season than the late season growth. Band dendrometers are less labor intensive to install than LVDT dendrometers and are non-invasive so are well suited to commercialization. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T17:46:45Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-95537822672740e5afccce4cedb6febb |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-462X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T17:46:45Z |
| publishDate | 2023-08-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Plant Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-95537822672740e5afccce4cedb6febb2023-08-03T14:05:54ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Plant Science1664-462X2023-08-011410.3389/fpls.2023.12144291214429Assessing water stress in a high-density apple orchard using trunk circumference variation, sap flow index and stem water potentialWilliam D. Wheeler0Brent Black1Bruce Bugbee2Crop Physiology Laboratory, Department of Plants, Soils, and Climate, Utah State University, Logan, UT, United StatesPomology Extension, Department of Plants, Soils, and Climate, Utah State University, Logan, UT, United StatesCrop Physiology Laboratory, Department of Plants, Soils, and Climate, Utah State University, Logan, UT, United StatesIntroductionAutomated plant-based measurements of water stress have the potential to advance precision irrigation in orchard crops. Previous studies have shown correlations between sap flow, line variable differential transform (LVDT) dendrometers and fruit tree drought response. Here we report season-long automated measurement of maximum daily change in trunk diameter using band dendrometers and heated needles to measure a simplified sap flow index (SFI).MethodsMeasurements were made on two apple cultivars that were stressed at 7 to 12 day intervals by withholding irrigation until the average stem water potential (ΨStem) dropped below -1.5 MPa, after which irrigation was restored and the drought cycle repeated.ResultsDendrometer measurements of maximum daily trunk shrinkage (MDS) were highly correlated (r² = 0.85) with pressure chamber measurements of stem water potential. The SFI measurements were less correlated with stem water potential but were highly correlated with evaporative demand (r² = 0.82) as determined by the Penman-Monteith equation (ETr).DiscussionThe high correlation of SFI to ETr suggests that high-density orchards resemble a continuous surface, unlike orchards with widely spaced trees. The correlations of MDS and SFI to ΨStem were higher during the early season than the late season growth. Band dendrometers are less labor intensive to install than LVDT dendrometers and are non-invasive so are well suited to commercialization.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2023.1214429/fullband dendrometersap flowstem water potentialwater stressFujiScilate |
| spellingShingle | William D. Wheeler Brent Black Bruce Bugbee Assessing water stress in a high-density apple orchard using trunk circumference variation, sap flow index and stem water potential Frontiers in Plant Science band dendrometer sap flow stem water potential water stress Fuji Scilate |
| title | Assessing water stress in a high-density apple orchard using trunk circumference variation, sap flow index and stem water potential |
| title_full | Assessing water stress in a high-density apple orchard using trunk circumference variation, sap flow index and stem water potential |
| title_fullStr | Assessing water stress in a high-density apple orchard using trunk circumference variation, sap flow index and stem water potential |
| title_full_unstemmed | Assessing water stress in a high-density apple orchard using trunk circumference variation, sap flow index and stem water potential |
| title_short | Assessing water stress in a high-density apple orchard using trunk circumference variation, sap flow index and stem water potential |
| title_sort | assessing water stress in a high density apple orchard using trunk circumference variation sap flow index and stem water potential |
| topic | band dendrometer sap flow stem water potential water stress Fuji Scilate |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2023.1214429/full |
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