Characteristics of Four Co-Occurring Tree Species Sap Flow in the Karst Returning Farmland to Forest Area of Southwest China and Their Responses to Environmental Factors

Monitoring stem sap flow is essential for understanding plant water-use strategies and eco-physiological processes in the ecologically fragile karst region. In the study, we continuously monitored four co-occurring species— Cryptomeria japonica var. sinensis (LS), Liquidambar formosana (FX), Camptotheca acuminata (XS), and Melia azedarach (KL)—using the thermal dissipation probe method in a karst farmland-to-forest restoration area. We analyzed diurnal and nocturnal sap flow variations across different growth periods and their responses to environmental factors at an hourly scale. The results showed (1) A “high daytime, low nighttime” sap flow pattern during the growing season for all species. (2) The proportion of nocturnal sap flow was significantly lower in the growing than in the non-growing season. (3) Daytime sap flow was primarily driven by photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) and vapor pressure deficit (VPD) during the growing season. In the non-growing season, daytime drivers were species-specific: relative humidity (RH, 39.39%) for LS; air temperature (Ta, 23.14%) for FX; PAR (33.03%) for XS; and soil moisture at a 10 cm depth (SM1, 25.2%) for KL. Nocturnal flow was governed by VPD and RH during the growing season versus soil moisture (SM1 and SM2) and RH in the non-growing season. These findings reveal interspecific differences in water-use strategies and provide a scientific basis for species selection and afforestation management in the karst ecological restoration of this research area.