ISHS Acta Horticulturae 455: V International Mango Symposium
XYLEM SAP FLOW MEASUREMENTS IN MANGO TREES |
| Authors: | P. Lu, Elias K. Chacko |
| Keywords: | transpiration, irrigation, Mangifera indica L. |
| Abstract:
Measurement of whole-tree transpiration may provide an estimate of the irrigation requirement of mango trees. In order to evaluate the suitability of Granier's sap flow measuring system for mango trees, sap flow was compared with the transpiration obtained by gravimetric and “cut-tree” methods. The Granier system estimated transpiration to within 6% of the true value. The system when tested on a ten-year-old field grown mango tree (cv. Kensington Pride) in the seasonally wet-dry tropics, although showing some circumferential variation (east vs west) in sap flow, responded readily to change in weather conditions and termination of irrigation in the middle of the measuring period. The daily whole-tree sap flow was higher during the wet season than during the dry season. During the dry season, the daily whole-tree water use measured by the sap flow method averaged 100 kg and 60 kg under irrigated and non-irrigated conditions, respectively; while during the wet season, it was estimated to be 126 kg. A preliminary study on the depth profile of sap flux density in a large, mature mango tree, suggested that the radial variability should be also taken into account in addition to the circumferential variability in sap flux density in the trunk, when scaling sap flux density to whole-tree water use. | |
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