SFM1 Sap Flow Meter is widely used in a number of citrus varieties including oranges, mandarins and lemons.

SFM1 Sap Flow Meter is widely used in a number of citrus varieties including oranges, mandarins and lemons.

In a study near Mildura, Victoria, Australia, sap flow was monitored on various varieties of mandarins, including “Kinnow” (Figure 1), for the growth and suitability in an irrigation project in Pakistan.

Figure 1 Citrus growing near Mildura in NSW, Australia.

Figure 1 Citrus growing near Mildura in NSW, Australia.

A preliminary study commenced by Dr Tahir Khurshid, Department of Primary Industries NSW, in 2011 sought to determine the water use of Kinnow over a growing season.

A preliminary study commenced by Dr Tahir Khurshid, Department of Primary Industries NSW, in 2011 sought to determine the water use of Kinnow over a growing season.

Figure 2 shows an example data set over a four week period in mid- Spring, 2011. The data shows a couple of days of rainy weather followed by a gradual warming of the weather later in the data set.

Figure 3 summaries total daily sap flow over spring, summer and early autumn in 2011/12. As expected, sap flow was highest in summer. In late summer and early autumn there were several days of rainy weather, leading to a fall in daily sap flow of 2 to 5 litres per day.

This data demonstrates that the SFM1 Sap Flow Meter can be successfully used in citrus species.