Sammanfattning

The cells in tree sapwood form a network of interconnected conduits which enables the transport of water and nutrients from the tree roots to the canopy. Sapwood depth must be assessed when tree water use is estimated from sap flow velocities. However, current approaches to assess sapwood depth are either not applicable universally, or require expensive instruments, the application of chemicals or laborious field efforts. Here, we present a new method, which estimates sapwood depth by thermal imaging of increment cores. Using a low-cost thermal camera for mobile devices, we show that the sapwood-heartwood boundary is detectable by a sharp increase in temperature. Estimated sapwood depths agree with dye estimates (R-2 = 0.84). We tested our approach on a broad range of temperate and tropical tree species: Quercus robur, Pinus sylvestris, Swietenia macrophylla, Guazuma ulmifolia, Hymenaea courbaril, Sideroxylon capiri and Astronium graveolens. In nearly all species, the methods agreed within 0.6 cm. Thermal imaging of increment cores provides a straightforward, low-cost, easy-to-use, and species-independent tool to identify sapwood depth. It has further potential to reveal radial differences in sapwood conductivity, to improve water balance estimations on larger scales and to quickly develop allometric relationships.

Nyckelord

Thermal imaging; Sapwood depth; Increment core; Sapwood conductivity

Publicerad i

Trees - Structure and Function
2023, Volym: 37, nummer: 2, sidor: 349-359
Utgivare: SPRINGER HEIDELBERG

SLU författare

• Marshall, John

  • Institutionen för skogens ekologi och skötsel, Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet
    

UKÄ forskningsämne

Vattenteknik
Skogsvetenskap


Publikationens identifierare

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00468-022-02352-7

Permanent länk till denna sida (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/119933