The transpiration measurement of trees in field condition is very difficult. In the two last decades, some emphasis has been given in the study of stem sap flow as an indicator of plant transpiration. The methodology is particularly suitable for time scale less or equal than one day. One of the methods is the heat dissipation method (HDM), which has been used because of its simplicity and high sensitivity to the sap flow variations. However, the effect of the natural radiation, that generates a natural thermal gradient in stem, may lead to precision loss. Moreover, the performance of the method needs to be evaluated if the conditions are different from those for which it was developed. Thus, the present work aimed to analyze the performance of the HDM in rubber trees, considering that this specie produces latex that could affect the performance of the sensor, as well as to evaluate the effect of the natural thermal gradient of the stem on the estimated transpiration. The results had showed that HDM can be used with rubber trees and, in the conditions that tests were conducted, the natural thermal gradient does not effect the estimations. To improve the precision of the method, further studies, characterizing the tissue sap conductive area and the stem diameter should be made.
Hevea brasiliensis; sap flow; transpiration
