Concepts

Naturally occurring isotopes of hydrogen (²H) and oxygen (¹⁸O) in water molecules used to trace water sources and movement through soil-plant systems

The movement of water from the soil to the plant's stomata which is then released into the atmosphere, serving as an indicator of plant water status

Process where trees shift their root water uptake from topsoil towards subsoil to sustain transpiration rates when shallow soil moisture declines

Analytical framework using isotopic signatures to determine proportional contributions of different water sources to plant water uptake