Abstract:Sap flow is one of the important ways to analyze the water consumption characteristics of trees and study the moisture transfer mechanism of trees. The heat dissipation probe method was widely used to monitor the change of sap flow. In general, the heat dissipation probe method is a flexible, reliable and economical method to study the water transpiration characteristics of plants on different spatial and temporal scales at present. However, due to differences in species characteristics, the measured value may be lower than the actual value during the experiment. In addition, a considerable number of plants depend on the water stored in the trunk for transpiration, so fluctuations in the moisture content of wood are likely to cause errors in the determination of transpiration. The principle, advantages and limitations of heat dissipation probe method were reviewed, as well as some problems. The researches on plant moisture transport based on the heat dissipation probe method and the method for correcting and improving the related results were retrospected.