Meteorological Drivers of Vineyard Water Vapor Loss and Water Use Efficiency During Dry Days

Abstract

Detailed monitoring of agroecosystem water vapor losses is essential for improving water management schemes. In this study, a combination of eddy covariance and sap flow sensors was used to examine the responses of evapotranspirative components and water use efficiency of a grassed vineyard to meteorological drivers during a dry spell. Results showed that the grapevines dominated the ecosystem fluxes of carbon and water in the mornings, after which they closed their stomata to limit transpiration. The grasses continued transpiring throughout the day, decreasing overall water use efficiency of the vineyard. Our findings emphasize the importance of short-timescale response monitoring in understanding vineyard water fluxes.