Comparing Penman–Monteith and Priestley–Taylor approaches as reference-evapotranspiration inputs for modeling maize water-use under Mediterranean conditions

A comparison between experimental and simulated data, considering the Priestley–Taylor (PT) and Penman–Monteith (PM) reference-evapotranspiration (ET₀) approaches was carried out. Experimental data, obtained from an irrigation assessment, conducted during the 1995 and 1996 maize growth-seasons at Zaragoza, Spain, was compared to the mechanistic-model SWAP simulation-results, considering each of the ET₀ calculation approaches in the model input. Soil hydraulic properties, meteorological data, seeding and harvest dates, crop water management and other experimental data were used as SWAP input. As corresponding to the windy and dry conditions found in many Mediterranean landplanes, PT-ET₀ values were significantly lower than PM-ET₀ calculations. Furthermore, simulated actual evapotranspirations considering the PT approach (PT-ET_c) were lower than those found in the simulations that consider the PM approach (PM-ET_c). Correspondingly, simulated drainage flux and soil water contents were higher when the PT-ET₀ approach was used. The correlation coefficients between simulated and measured actual maize evapotranspirations and soil water contents were statistically significant, but the same for both ET₀ calculation approaches. Mean and median differences between actual and simulated maize water-use were not statistically different from zero for both considered ET₀ calculation approaches. Experimental data variability was significantly higher than simulated variability. The comparisons among the evaluated irrigation options, made with the experimental water-use data, lead almost to the same conclusions than those achieved from the simulated maize water-use. Considering PM-ET_c rather than PT-ET_c yields no statistical difference in the modeling-based conclusions. According to the obtained results, the PT approach could be used under Mediterranean conditions for comparative assessments aimed to support irrigation decision-making.     

The dual crop coefficient approach to estimate and partitioning evapotranspiration of the winter wheat–summer maize crop sequence in North China Plain

An accurate estimation of crop evapotranspiration (ET _c) is very useful for appropriate water management; hence, an accurate and user-friendly model is needed to support related irrigation decisions. In this view, a study was developed aimed at estimating the ET _c of winter wheat–summer maize crop sequence in the North China through eddy covariance measurements, to calibrate and validate the SIMDualKc model, to estimate the basal crop coefficients (K _cb) for both crops and to partition ET _c into soil evaporation and crop transpiration. Two years of field experimentation of that crop sequence were used to calibrate and validate the SIMDualKc model and to derive K _cb using eddy covariance measurements. Various indicators have shown the goodness of fit of the model, with estimated values very close to the observed ones and estimate errors close to 0.5 mm d^?1. The initial, mid-season and end basal crop coefficients for wheat were 0.25, 1.15 and 0.30, respectively, and those for maize were 0.15, 1.15 and 0.45, thus close to those proposed in FAO56 guidelines. The soil evaporation represented near 80 % of ET _c for the initial stages of winter wheat and summer maize and decreased to only 5–6 % during the mid-season period. Evaporation during the full crop season averaged 28 % for winter wheat and 40 % for summer maize. The importance of wetting frequency and crop ground coverage in controlling soil evaporation was evidenced.     

Crop water deficit estimation and irrigation scheduling in western Jilin province,Northeast China

Jilin province is one of the main dryland grain production areas in China. Recently, limited supplemental irrigation, using groundwater in the semi-arid western area of the province, has developed rapidly to improve the low grain productivity caused by rainfall variability. Research was conducted to estimate the actual crop water requirements and identify the timing and magnitude of water deficits of the main crops such as corn (Zea mays L.), soybean (Glycine max L.) and sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.). Using the guidelines for computing crop water requirements in FAO Irrigation and Drainage paper 56 and historical rainfall distributions, the crop water requirements, ETc and the crop water deficits of corn, soybean and sorghum were calculated. Based on the water deficit analysis, a recommended average supplemental irrigation schedule was developed. Crop production was compared to full irrigation and to a rainfed control in a field experiment.On average, compared to the rainfed control, the full irrigation and the average supplemental irrigation treatments of corn, increased yields 49.0 and 43.9%, respectively; soybean yields of those treatments increased by 41.0 and 34.7%, and sorghum yields of those treatments increased by 55.5 and 46.3%. A supplemental irrigation schedule can be used in the semi-arid western Jilin province to improve crop yields.     

Sprinkler evaporation losses in alfalfa during solid-set sprinkler irrigation in semiarid areas

Gross sprinkler evaporation losses (SEL_g) can be large and decrease irrigation application efficiency. However, it is not universally established how much of the SEL_g contributes to decrease the crop evapotranspiration during the sprinkler irrigation and how much are the net sprinkler losses (SEL_n). The components of SEL were the wind drift and evaporation losses (WDEL) and the water intercepted by the crop (IL). The gross WDEL (WDEL_g) and evapotranspiration (ET) were measured simultaneously in two alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) plots, one being irrigated (moist, MT) and the other one not being irrigated (dry, DT). Catch can measurements, mass gains, and losses in the lysimeters and micrometeorological measurements were performed to establish net WDEL (WDEL_n) during the irrigation and net IL (IL_n) after the irrigation as the difference between ET_MT and ET_DT. Also, equations to estimate IL_n and net sprinkler evaporation losses (SEL_n) were developed. IL_n was strongly related to vapor pressure deficit (VPD). SEL_n were 8.3 % of the total applied water. During daytime irrigations, SEL_n was 9.8 % of the irrigation water and slightly less than WDEL_g (10.9 %). During nighttime irrigations, SEL_n were slightly greater than WDEL_g (5.4 and 3.7 %, respectively). SEL_n was mainly a function of wind speed.     

On quantifying soil water deficit of a partially wetted root zone by the response of canopy or leaf conductance

Quantifying the soil water deficit (SWD) and its relation to canopy or leaf conductance is essential for application of the Penman–Monteith equation to water-stressed plants. As the water uptake of a single root depends on the water content of the soil in its immediate vicinity, the non-uniform distribution of water and roots in the soil profile does not allow simple quantification of SWD from soil-based measurements. Using measurements of stem sap flux (with a heat pulse technique), soil evaporation (with micro-lysimeters) and meteorological parameters the canopy conductance was obtained through inversion of the Penman–Monteith equation. SWD was evaluated by averaging the soil water content profile of the root zone (monitored by layers with the TDR sensors) weighted by root distribution of the layers. The average canopy conductance at midday (11:00–15:00, Israel Summer Time), denoted as G_noon, was computed for each day of the experimental period. Stable summer weather, typical of the Mediterranean region, and the fully developed crop canopy, made water stress the only plausible cause of a G_noon decline. However, the daily decline of G_noon did not occur at the same weighted average soil water content during the successive drying cycles. For the cycle with less irrigation, the decline in G_noon occurred at higher soil moisture levels. Alternatively, when SWD was determined from the water balance, i.e., by defining water deficit as irrigation minus accumulated evapotranspiration, the G_noon decline occurred at the same value of water deficit for all irrigation cycles. We conclude that a climate-based soil water balance model is a better means of quantifying SWD than a solely soil-based measurement.     

Evapotranspiration and responses to irrigation of broccoli

In cold, semi-arid areas, the options for crop diversification are limited by climate and by the water supply available. Growing irrigated crops outside the main season is not easy, because of climatic and market constraints. We carried out an experiment in Albacete, Central Spain, to measure the water use (evapotranspiration, ET) of broccoli (Brassica oleracea L. var. italica Plenck) planted in late summer and harvested at the end of fall. A weighing lysimeter was used to measure the seasonal ET under sprinkler irrigation. Consumptive use reached 359 mm for a period of 109 days after transplanting. The crop coefficient (K_c) for broccoli was obtained and compared to the standard recommendations for normal planting dates. Dual crop coefficient computations of the lysimeter ET data indicated that evaporation represented 31% of seasonal ET. An analysis of the variation in daily K_c values at a time of full cover suggested that the use of a grass lysimeter as a reference ET (ET_o) was superior to using the ASCE Penman-Monteith (ASCE PM) equation at hourly time steps, which in turn caused less variability in K_c than when using the FAO-56 Penman-Monteith (FAO-56 PM) equation at daily time steps for the ET_o calculation. An additional experiment aimed at evaluating the yield response to applied irrigation water by the drip method (seven treatments, from 59 to 108% of ET_c) generated a production function that gave maximum yields of near 12 t ha⁻¹ at an irrigation level of 345 mm, and a water use efficiency of 3.37 kg m⁻³. It is concluded that growing broccoli in the fall season is a viable alternative for crop diversification, as the lower yields obtained here may be more than compensated for by the higher produce prices in autumn, at a time of the year where irrigation water demand for other crops is very low.     

Using the dual approach of FAO-56 for partitioning ET into soil and plant components for olive orchards in a semi-arid region

The main goal of this research was to evaluate the potential of the dual approach of FAO-56 for estimating actual crop evapotranspiration (AET) and its components (crop transpiration and soil evaporation) of an olive (Olea europaea L.) orchard in the semi-arid region of Tensift-basin (central of Morocco). Two years (2003 and 2004) of continuous measurements of AET with the eddy-covariance technique were used to test the performance of the model. The results showed that, by using the local values of basal crop coefficients, the approach simulates reasonably well AET over two growing seasons. The Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) between measured and simulated AET values during 2003 and 2004 were respectively about 0.54 and 0.71 mm per day. The basal crop coefficient (K_cb) value obtained for the olive orchard was similar in both seasons with an average of 0.54. This value was lower than that suggested by the FAO-56 (0.62). Similarly, the single approach of FAO-56 has been tested in the previous work (Er-Raki et al., 2008) over the same study site and it has been shown that this approach also simulates correctly AET when using the local crop coefficient and under no stress conditions.Since the dual approach predicts separately soil evaporation and plant transpiration, an attempt was made to compare the simulated components of AET with measurements obtained through a combination of eddy covariance and scaled-up sap flow measurements. The results showed that the model gives an acceptable estimate of plant transpiration and soil evaporation. The associated RMSE of plant transpiration and soil evaporation were 0.59 and 0.73 mm per day, respectively.Additionally, the irrigation efficiency was investigated by comparing the irrigation scheduling design used by the farmer to those recommended by the FAO model. It was found that although the amount of irrigation applied by the farmer (800 mm) during the growing season of olives was twice that recommended one by the FAO model (411 mm), the vegetation suffered from water stress during the summer. Such behaviour can be explained by inadequate distribution of irrigation. Consequently, the FAO model can be considered as a potentially useful tool for planning irrigation schedules on an operational basis.     

Deficit irrigation in maize for reducing agricultural water use in a Mediterranean environment

Research on crop response to deficit irrigation is important to reduce agricultural water use in areas where water is a limited resource. Two field experiments were conducted on a loam soil in northeast Spain to characterize the response of maize (Zea mays L.) to deficit irrigation under surface irrigation. The growing season was divided into three phases: vegetative, flowering and grain filling. The irrigation treatments consisted of all possible combinations of full irrigation or limited irrigation in the three phases. Limited irrigation was applied by increasing the interval between irrigations. Soil water status, crop growth, above-ground biomass, yield and its components were measured. Results showed that flowering was the most sensitive stage to water deficit, with reductions in biomass, yield and harvest index. Average grain yield of treatments with deficit irrigation around flowering (691 g m⁻²) was significantly lower than that of the well-irrigated treatments (1069 g m⁽²). Yield reduction was mainly due to a lower number of grains per square metre. Deficit irrigation or higher interval between irrigations during the grain filling phase did not significantly affect crop growth and yield. It was possible to maintain relatively high yields in maize if small water deficits caused by increasing the interval between irrigations were limited to periods other than the flowering stage. Irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE) was higher in treatments fully irrigated around flowering.     

Impact of drip and level-basin irrigation on growth and yield of winter wheat in the North China Plain

A field experiment was conducted for 3 consecutive years (2007–2009) to study the effects of two different irrigation methods, that is, level-basin irrigation (BI) and drip irrigation (DI), and different treatment levels on crop growth, yield, and WUE of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in the North China Plain (NCP). The results indicate that irrigation methods and treatment levels had significant effects on crop growth and yield of winter wheat. Irrigation amounts significantly influenced plant heights, LAI, and winter wheat grain yields (P < 0.05 level) for both irrigation methods. Further, the DI method significantly improved yield and WUE compared with the BI method (P < 0.05 level) under conditions of deficit irrigation. Without irrigation system investment consideration, crop water productivity was highest when DI was used and irrigations were scheduled when soil water was depleted to 60 and 50 % of field capacity.     

Macromanagement of deficit-irrigated peanut with sprinkler irrigation

Precision irrigation management and scheduling, as well as developing site- and cultivar-specific crop coefficient (K_c), and yield response factor to water deficit (ky) are very important parameters for efficient use of limited water resources. This study investigated the effect of deficit irrigation, applied at different growth stages of peanut with sprinkler irrigation in sandy soil, on field peanut evapotranspiration (ETc), yield and yield components, and water use efficiencies (IWUE and WUE). Also, yield response factor to water deficit (ky), and site- and cultivar-specific K_c were developed. Four treatments were imposed to deficit irrigation during late vegetative and early flowering, late flowering and early pegging, pegging, and pod formation growth stages of peanut, and compared with full irrigation in the course of the season (control). A soil water balance equation was used to estimate crop evapotranspiration (ETc). The results revealed that maximum seasonal ETc was 488 mm recorded with full irrigation treatment. The maximum value of K_c (0.96) occurred at the fifth week after sowing, this value was less than the generic values listed in FAO-33 and -56 (1.03 and 1.15), respectively. Dry kernels yield among treatments differed by 41.4%. Deficit irrigation significantly affected yields, where kernels yield decreased by 28, 39, 36, and 41% in deficit-irrigated late vegetative and early flowering, late flowering and early pegging, pegging, and pod formation growth stages, respectively, compared with full irrigation treatment. Peanut yields increased linearly with seasonal ETc (R² = 0.94) and ETc/ETp (R² = 0.92) (ETp = ETc with no water stress). The yield response factor (ky), which indicates the relative reduction in yield to relative reduction in ETc, averaged 2.9, was higher than the 0.7 value reported by Doorenbos and Kassam [Doorenbos, J., Kassam, A.H., 1979. Yield response to water. FAO Irrigation and Drainage Paper 33, Rome, Italy, 193 pp.], the high ky value reflects the great sensitivity of peanut (cv. Giza 5) to water deficit. WUE values varied considerably with deficit irrigation treatments, averaging 6.1 and 4.5 kg ha⁻¹ mm⁻¹ (dry-mass basis) for pods and kernels, respectively. Differences in WUE between the driest and wettest treatment were 31.3 and 31.3% for pods and kernels, respectively. Deficit irrigation treatments, however, impacted IWUE much more than WUE. Differences in IWUE between the driest and wettest treatment were 33.9 and 33.9% for pods and kernels, respectively. The results revealed that better management of available soil water in the root zone in the course of the season, as well as daily and seasonal accurate estimation of ETc can be an effective way for best irrigation scheduling and water allocation, maximizing yield, and optimizing economic return.     

Development of crop water stress index of wheat crop for scheduling irrigation using infrared thermometry

This study was conducted to develop the relationship between canopy-air temperature difference and vapour pressure deficit for no stress condition of wheat crop (baseline equations), which was used to quantify crop water stress index (CWSI) to schedule irrigation in winter wheat crop (Triticum aestivum L.). The randomized block design (RBD) was used to design the experimental layout with five levels of irrigation treatments based on the percentage depletion of available soil water (ASW) in the root zone. The maximum allowable depletion (MAD) of the available soil water (ASW) of 10, 40 and 60 per cent, fully wetted (no stress) and no irrigation (fully stressed) were maintained in the crop experiments. The lower (non-stressed) and upper (fully stressed) baselines were determined empirically from the canopy and ambient air temperature data obtained using infrared thermometry and vapour pressure deficit (VPD) under fully watered and maximum water stress crop, respectively. The canopy-air temperature difference and VPD resulted linear relationships and the slope (m) and intercept (c) for lower baseline of pre-heading and post-heading stages of wheat crop were found m = −1.7466, c = −1.2646 and m = −1.1141, c = −2.0827, respectively. The CWSI was determined by using the developed empirical equations for three irrigation schedules of different MAD of ASW. The established CWSI values can be used for monitoring plant water status and planning irrigation scheduling for wheat crop.     

A mathematical model for simulating water balances in cropped sandy soil with conventional flood irrigation applied

In this paper, a model that integrates various complex model components for the purposes of water balance modeling throughout crop development in arid inland region under the conventional flood irrigation practiced is presented. These components are modules for calculating dynamic soil water content based Richard's equation, potential and actual evapotranspiration, and crop root water uptake. Soil water content in the active root zone and soil evaporation simulation obtained from the model were test using field data in 2003. The low values of MARE and high values of R² and PE in the active root zone of soil profile as well as daily soil evaporation indicated that the soil water balance simulation model presented in the paper can be used with reliable accuracy to simulate the components of water balance in cropped sandy soil under the conventional flood irrigation condition in arid inland regions. The model simulation on components of water balance using observed field data in 2004 indicated that large quantities – about 43% of irrigation water (amounting to 840 mm) – were consumed by deep percolation, only small (less than 41%) proportions of irrigation water used by the plants for transpiration. The current irrigation scheme is characterized by the unreasonable agricultural water management with the waste of water in the irrigational system in this region. The impact of irrigation scheduling on water balance presented in this paper showed that the reasonable irrigation scheme with more frequent irrigation and less amounts is more suitable for the irrigation of spring wheat in Heihe River basin, northwest China. Therefore, to establish a decision-making system for agricultural irrigation scheme and to utilize the limited water resources in this region have become an urgent problem that needs to be solved.     

Evaluating the effectiveness of a hydrophobic polymer for conserving water and reducing weed infection in a sandy loam soil

In this work we tested the influence of different solutions of a hydrophobic polymer named Guilspare^®, applied to the soil surface to reduce soil evaporation, on the soil water status, soil temperature, crop performance and weed emergence. Two tests were carried out on a farm of the Guadalquivir river valley, southwest Spain, one with a maize crop and the other with bare soil. In the test with maize, we evaluated the effect of applying a solution of 2% v/v of Guilspare^® in water, at the rate of 3 l m⁻², on the crop performance and weed emergence. On both the treated and the untreated control plots, three rates of irrigation were applied, namely 100, 75 and 50% of the locally determined optimal irrigation depth to cover the crop needs for an optimum development and yield. For the case of 50% of the irrigation dose, the performance of the crop treated with the polymer (T50) was much better than that of the untreated control plot (C50). The crop height and green leaf area index for T50 were nearly as good as for the C100 control plants receiving 100% of the irrigation dose. The T50 crop was 73% of the yield of the treated and fully irrigated T100 crop, while the C50 yield was only 38% of the C100 yield. The treated crop reached the different phenological stages quicker than the untreated crop. The polymer was effective in reducing weed emergence. In the test with bare soil, 0.8% v/v of Guilspare^® in water, at the rate of 1 l m⁻², kept levels of water content in the soil as high as other solutions with greater amounts both of polymer and water. The average soil water content during the irrigation period in this lower treatment was 34 and 53% higher at depths of 0.15 and 0.25 m, respectively, than in the untreated plots. No influence of the polymer on soil temperature was observed. Results from additional measurements on weed emergence and hydraulic conductivity of the soil surface showed that the polymer was still effective 7 months after application. In fact, the hydraulic conductivity in the range near saturation was 44% greater in the treated plots than in the untreated ones, and the number of weeds was 27% lower.     

泸州市参考作物腾发量计算方法比较与修正

为实现参考作物腾发量（ET0）在气象资料缺失地区的准确计算,探究ET0简便方法在泸州市的适用性,以Penman-Monteith（PM）法作为标准方法,对Hargreaves（Har）法、FAO24 Blaney-Criddle（FAO24 BC）法、Makkink（Mak）法、Priestley-Taylor（PT）法计算的ET0进行适用性分析,并采用线性关系和贝叶斯公式对各方法进行修正。通过误差分析得出,Har、PT法在研究区的适用性较好,RMSE在0.5~1.1 mm/d、PE在10%~15%,误差相对较小,且利用线性关系修正比贝叶斯公式好,线性修正后的Har法、PT法误差分别下降50%、80%左右,可以看出PT法的修正效果比Har法更理想。采用线性关系修正后的PT法更适合代替PM法计算气象资料缺失时的ET0,可为估算作物需水量提供理论依据和数据支持。      

Effect of saline water irrigation and manure application on the available water content, soil salinity, and growth of wheat

Good water management combined with appropriate soil management is necessary for sustainable crop production in drylands. A pot culture experiment was conducted using sand dune soil under greenhouse conditions to evaluate the response of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) to the application of farmyard manure (FYM) or poultry manure (PM), and irrigation with water at two salinity levels (0.11 and 2.0 dS m⁻¹) and two irrigation intervals (daily and every second day). The manure was applied at a rate of 20 Mg ha⁻¹. The soil water content, measured 1 h before every irrigation, showed that soil treated with PM retained more water than that treated with FYM, while the control (no manure) contained the least water. FYM treatment resulted in 78 and 21% higher dry matter yield compared to the control and PM treatments, respectively, under daily irrigation using good-quality water. The increase was 29 and 55%, respectively, when saline water was used for daily irrigation. A similar trend was observed with the alternate day irrigation treatment; FYM gave the highest dry matter yield. The number of tillers and plant height showed that FYM was better than PM, which in turn was better than the control under irrigation with good-quality water regardless of the irrigation interval. When water of the highest salinity was used for irrigation, FYM was still always the best, but the control was now better than the PM treatment. The electrical conductivity of the soil measured at the end of the experiment was slightly higher with PM, as compared to the FYM and control treatments. A significant interaction between irrigation water quality and manure application was observed, affecting plant growth. PM aggravated the adverse affect of saline water on plant growth by increasing soil salinity.     

Evaluation of FAO Penman-Monteith and alternative methods for estimating reference evapotranspiration with missing data in Southern Ontario, Canada

Grass reference evapotranspiration (ETo) is an important agrometeorological parameter for climatological and hydrological studies, as well as for irrigation planning and management. There are several methods to estimate ETo, but their performance in different environments is diverse, since all of them have some empirical background. The FAO Penman-Monteith (FAO PM) method has been considered as a universal standard to estimate ETo for more than a decade. This method considers many parameters related to the evapotranspiration process; net radiation (Rn), air temperature (T), vapor pressure deficit (Δe), and wind speed (U); and has presented very good results when compared to data from lysimeters populated with short grass or alfalfa. In some conditions, the use of the FAO PM method is restricted by the lack of input variables. In these cases, when data are missing, the option is to calculate ETo by the FAO PM method using estimated input variables, as recommended by FAO Irrigation and Drainage Paper 56. Based on that, the objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of the FAO PM method to estimate ETo when Rn, Δe, and U data are missing, in Southern Ontario, Canada. Other alternative methods were also tested for the region: Priestley-Taylor, Hargreaves, and Thornthwaite. Data from 12 locations across Southern Ontario, Canada, were used to compare ETo estimated by the FAO PM method with a complete data set and with missing data. The alternative ETo equations were also tested and calibrated for each location. When relative humidity (RH) and U data were missing, the FAO PM method was still a very good option for estimating ETo for Southern Ontario, with RMSE smaller than 0.53 mm day⁻¹. For these cases, U data were replaced by the normal values for the region and Δe was estimated from temperature data. The Priestley-Taylor method was also a good option for estimating ETo when U and Δe data were missing, mainly when calibrated locally (RMSE = 0.40 mm day⁻¹). When Rn was missing, the FAO PM method was not good enough for estimating ETo, with RMSE increasing to 0.79 mm day⁻¹. When only T data were available, adjusted Hargreaves and modified Thornthwaite methods were better options to estimate ETo than the FAO PM method, since RMSEs from these methods, respectively 0.79 and 0.83 mm day⁻¹, were significantly smaller than that obtained by FAO PM (RMSE = 1.12 mm day⁻¹).     

Agricultural water management in a humid region: sensitivity to climate,soil and crop parameters

A sensitivity analysis of irrigation water requirements at the regional scale was conducted for the humid southeastern United States. The GIS-based water resources and agricultural permitting and planning system (GWRAPPS), a regional scale, GIS-based, crop water requirement model, was used to simulate the effect of climate, soil, and crop parameters on crop irrigation requirements. The effects of reference evapotranspiration (ET_o) methods, available soil water holding capacities (ASWHC), crop coefficients (K_c), and crop root zone depths (z) were quantified for 203 ferneries and 152 potato farms. The irrigation demand exhibited a positive relationship with K_c and z, a negative relationship with ASWHC, and seasonal variations depending on the choice of ET_o methods. The average irrigation demand was most sensitive to the choice of K_c with a 10% shift in K_c values resulting in approximately 15% change in irrigation requirements. Most ET_o methods performed reasonably well in estimating annual irrigation requirements as compared to the FAO-56 PM method. However, large differences in monthly irrigation estimates were observed due to the effect of the seasonal variability exhibited by the methods. Our results suggested that the selection of ET_o method is more critical when modeling irrigation requirements at a shorter temporal scale (daily or monthly) as necessary for many applications, such as daily irrigation scheduling, than at a longer temporal scale (seasonal or annual). The irrigation requirements were more sensitive to z when the resultant timing of irrigation coincided with rainfall events. When compared with the overall average of the irrigation requirements differences, the site-to-site variability was low for K_c values and high for the other variables. In particular, soil properties had considerable average regional differences and variability among sites. Thus, the extrapolation of site-specific sensitivity studies may not be appropriate for the determination of regional responses crop water demand.     

Determination of the crop coefficient for grafted ‘Tahiti’ lime trees and soil evaporation coefficient of Rhodic Kandiudalf clay soil in Sao Paulo,Brazil

The expansion of permanent trickle irrigation systems in Sao Paulo (Brazil) citrus has changed the focus of irrigation scheduling from determining irrigation timing to quantifying irrigation amounts. The water requirements of citrus orchards are difficult to estimate, since they are influenced by heterogeneous factors such as age, planting density and irrigation system. In this study, we estimated the water requirements of young ‘Tahiti’ lime orchards, considering the independent contributions from soil evaporation and crop transpiration by splitting the crop coefficient (Kc = ETc/ETo) into two separate coefficients; Ke, a soil evaporation coefficient and Kcb, a crop transpiration coefficient. Hence, the water requirement in young ‘Tahiti’ lime (ET_y) is ET_y = (Ke + Kcb) · ETo, where ETo is the reference crop evapotranspiration. Mature tree water requirement (ET_m) is ET_m = Kcb · ETo, assuming no soil water evaporation. Two lysimeters were used; one was 1.6 m in diameter and 0.7 m deep, and the other was 2.7 m in diameter and 0.8-m deep. The first one was used to calculate evaporation and the second one was used for transpiration. ETo was estimated by the Penman–Monteith method (FAO-56). The measurements were conducted during a period between August 2002 and April 2005 in Piracicaba, Sao Paulo state, Brazil. The lysimeters were installed at the center of a 1.0-ha plot planted with ‘Tahiti’ lime trees grafted on ‘Swingle’ citrumelo rootstock. The trees were 1-year old at planting, spaced 7 × 4 m, and were irrigated by a drip irrigation system. During the study period, Kc varied between 0.6 and 1.22, and Kcb varied between 0.4 and 1.0. The results suggested that for young lime trees, the volume of water per tree calculated by Ke + Kcb is about 80% higher than the volume calculated using Kc. For mature trees, the volume of water per tree calculated using just Kcb can be 10% less than using Kc. The independent influence of soil evaporation and transpiration is important to better understand the water consumption of young lime trees during growth compared to mature lime trees.     

Minimizing instrumentation requirement for estimating crop water stress index and transpiration of maize

Research was conducted in northern Colorado in 2011 to estimate the crop water stress index (CWSI) and actual transpiration (T _a) of maize under a range of irrigation regimes. The main goal was to obtain these parameters with minimum instrumentation and measurements. The results confirmed that empirical baselines required for CWSI calculation are transferable within regions with similar climatic conditions, eliminating the need to develop them for each irrigation scheme. This means that maize CWSI can be determined using only two instruments: an infrared thermometer and an air temperature/relative humidity sensor. Reference evapotranspiration data obtained from a modified atmometer were similar to those estimated at a standard weather station, suggesting that maize T _a can be calculated based on CWSI and by adding one additional instrument: a modified atmometer. Estimated CWSI during four hourly periods centered on solar noon was largest during the 2 h after solar noon. Hence, this time window is recommended for once-a-day data acquisition if the goal is to capture maximum stress level. Maize T _a based on CWSI during the first hourly period (10:00–11:00) was closest to T _a estimates from a widely used crop coefficient model. Thus, this time window is recommended if the goal is to monitor maize water use. Average CWSI over the 2 h after solar noon and during the study period (early August to late September, 2011) was 0.19, 0.57, and 0.20 for plots under full, low-frequency deficit, and high-frequency deficit irrigation regimes, respectively. During the same period (50 days), total maize T _a based on the 10:00–11:00 CWSI was 218, 141, and 208 mm for the same treatments, respectively. These values were within 3 % of the results of the crop coefficient approach.