Data Logging Instruments For Drought Experiments

Continuous Data Logging Instruments For Drought Experiments

SFM-1
Research Question:
What is the effect of drought on total plant water use over a growing season?

Instrument: SFM1 Sap Flow Meter

Variable Outputs:
Cumulative Transpiration (Litres) or Cumulative Sap Flow (Litres)

SFM-1
Research Question:
What is the effect of extreme temperature on daily plant water use?

Instrument: SFM1 Sap Flow Meter

Variable Outputs:
Sap Velocity (cm/hr) Daily Sap Volume (Litres per Day)

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SFM/HFD
Research Question:
Can plants redistribute water from wet roots to dry roots across the stem?

Instrument: SFM/HFD; Heat Field Deformation

Variable Outputs:
Sap Velocity (cm/hr) Sap Flux Density (cm³/cm² /hr)

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PSY-1
Research Question:
What is the effect of drought on stem water potential?

Instrument:
PSY1 Stem Psychrometer

Variable Outputs: Stem Water Potential (Ψ, MPa)

Example 5 day dataset of increasing drought; Logging Interval: 30min;

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DRL26
Research Question:
What is the effect of drought on daily stem shrinkage?

Instrument: DBL60 Logging Band Dendrometer

Variable Outputs:
Maximum Daily Shrinkage (MDS, μm) Stem Increment (Growth; μm)

MDS = Maximum Daily Stem Diameter minus Minimum Daily Stem Diameter

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TSM-4000L
Research Question:
Does canopy temperature increase under drought due to less cooling from transpiration?

Instrument: TSM-4000L; Infrared Thermometry

Variable Outputs:
Canopy Temperature (TC) with reference to air temperature (Ta)

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SMM-MP406
Research Question:
Following a rain event, what is the nature of the wetting front in a 2m soil profile?

Instrument: SMM/MP406; Standing Wave Principle

Variable Outputs:
Volumetric Soil Water Content (%)

Figure. Drainage under cotton, Biloela, Queensland,Australia. Cotton root depth is to 70cm however data shows drainage below root zone. Therefore water is being wasted.