Abstract:Sapflow has been measured at three sites in the Heihe river basin, which is one of the largest inland rivers in the arid region of northwest China. In this area water resources are limited, so knowledge of vegetation water use, both the timing and amount, is needed to better estimate the regional water balance. One site was located in each of the upper, middle and lower reaches. At the upper reach site, Xishui (38°32.2′N,100°17′E,2731m, annual precipitation is about 435.5mm) four Tsinghai Spruce trees (Pice...