Estimation of water consumption and crop water productivity of winter wheat in North China Plain using remote sensing technology

The North China Plain (NCP) is one of the most water stressed areas in the world. The water consumption of winter wheat accounts for more than 50% of the total water consumption in this region. An accurate estimate of the evapotranspiration (ET) and crop water productivity (CWP) at regional scale is therefore key to the practice of water-saving agriculture in NCP. In this research, the ET and CWP of winter wheat in 83 counties during October 2003 to June 2004 in NCP were estimated using the remote sensing data. The daily ET was calculated using SEBAL model with NOAA remote sensing data in 17 non-cloud days whereas the reference daily crop ET was estimated using meteorological data based on Hargreaves approach. The daily ET and the total ET over the entire growing season of winter wheat were obtained using crop coefficient interpolation approach. The calculated average and maximum water consumption of winter wheat in these 83 counties were 424 and 475 mm, respectively. The calculated daily ET from SEBAL model showed good match with the observed data collected in a Lysimeter. The error of ET estimation over the entire growing stage of winter wheat was approximately 4.3%. The highest CWP across this region was 1.67 kg m⁻³, and the lowest was less than 0.5 kg m⁻³. We observed a close linear relationship between CWP and yield. We also observed that the continuing increase of ET leads to a peaking and subsequent decline of CWP, which suggests that the higher water consumption does not necessarily lead to a higher yield.     

Simulation of winter wheat evapotranspiration in Texas and Henan using three models of differing complexity

Crop evapotranspiration (ET) is an important component of simulation models with many practical applications related to the efficient management of crop water supply. The algorithms used by models to calculate ET are of various complexity and robustness, and often have to be modified for particular environments. We chose three crop models with different ET calculation strategies: CROPWAT with simple data inputs and no calibrations, MODWht for intensive inputs and limited calibrations, and CERES-Wheat with intensive inputs and more calibrations for parameters. The three crop models were used to calculate ET of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grown at two experimental sites of China and US during multiple growing seasons in which ET was measured using lysimeter or soil water balance techniques. None of the models calculated daily ET well at either Bushland or Zhengzhou as indicated by high mean absolute differences (MAD > 1.1 mm) and root mean squared errors (RMSE > 2.0 mm). The three models tended to overestimate daily ET when measured ET was small, and to underestimate daily ET when measured ET was large. The fitted values of daily crop coefficients (K_c), calculated from daily ET and reference ET (ET_o), were very similar to those of Allen et al. (1998) [Allen, R.G., Pereira, S.L., Raes, D., Smith, M., 1998. Crop evapotranspiration guidelines for computing crop water requirements. Irrigation and drainage paper 56, Rome] although some K_c were overestimated (≥1.0). Leaf area index (LAI) was poorly calculated by MODWht and CERES-Wheat, especially when using the Priestley-Taylor method to estimate potential ET (PET). Poor overall ET calculation of three models was associated with poorly estimated values of PET or ET_o, K_c and LAI as well as their interactions. Therefore, this suggested that considerable revisions and calibrations of ET algorithms of the three models are needed for the improvement of ET calculation.     

太行山山前平原主要农作物蒸散量估算方法比较

利用中国科学院栾城农业生态系统试验站1996、1997年气象数据,采用参考作物法和α比值法求得小麦、玉米蒸散量,并与同期大型称重式蒸渗仪监测的小麦、玉米蒸散量进行了比较。结果表明,2种方法估算小麦需水量误差较小。在估算玉米需水量时,丰水年α比值法结果偏低,枯水年参考作物法估算结果偏高。为准确估算作物需水量,建议在确定作物系数时应该尽量采用长系列观测数据分别确定不同年型的作物系数或耗水特征系数,或者采用误差较小的估算方法。     

A Landsat-based energy balance and evapotranspiration model in Western US water rights regulation and planning

The quantification of evapotranspiration (ET) from irrigated projects is important for water rights management, water resources planning and water regulation. Traditionally, ET has been estimated by multiplying a weather-based reference ET by crop coefficients (K_c) determined according to the crop type and the crop growth stage. However, there is typically question regarding whether crops grown compare with the conditions represented by the K_c values, especially in water short areas. In addition, it is difficult to estimate the correct crop growth stage dates for large populations of crops and fields. METRIC (Mapping Evapotranspiration at high Resolution and with Internalized Calibration) is an image-processing model for calculating ET as a residual of the surface energy balance. METRIC is a variant of SEBAL, an energy balance process developed in the Netherlands by Bastiaanssen and was extended to provide tighter integration with ground-based reference ET. METRIC was applied with Landsat images in southern Idaho to predict monthly and seasonal ET for water rights accounting and for operation of ground water models. ET “maps” (i.e., images) provide the means to quantify, in terms of both the amount and spatial distribution, the ET on a field by field basis. The ET maps have been used in Idaho to quantify net ground-water pumpage in areas where water extraction from underground is not measured and to estimate recharge from surface-irrigated lands. Application and testing of METRIC indicates substantial promise as an efficient, accurate, and relatively inexpensive procedure to predict the actual evaporation fluxes from irrigated lands throughout a growing season.     

Changes in evapotranspiration over irrigated winter wheat and maize in North China Plain over three decades

Evapotranspiration (ET) is an important component of the water cycle at field, regional and global scales. This study used measured data from a 30-year irrigation experiment (1979-2009) in the North China Plain (NCP) on winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and summer maize (Zea mays L.) to analyze the impacts of climatic factors and crop yield on ET. The results showed that grass reference evapotranspiration (ET_o, calculated by FAO Penmen-Monteith method) was relatively constant from 1979 to 2009. However, the actual seasonal ET of winter wheat and maize under well-watered condition gradually increased from the 1980s to the 2000s. The mean seasonal ET was 401.4 mm, 417.3 mm and 458.6 mm for winter wheat, and 375.7 mm, 381.1 mm and 396.2 mm for maize in 1980s, 1990s and 2000s, respectively. The crop coefficient (K_c) was not constant and changed with the yield of the crops. The seasonal average K_c of winter wheat was 0.75 in the 1980s, 0.81 in the 1990s and 0.85 in the 2000s, and the corresponding average grain yield (GY) was 4790 kg ha⁻¹, 5501 kg ha⁻¹ and 6685 kg ha⁻¹. The average K_c of maize was 0.88 in the 1980s, 0.88 in the 1990s and 0.94 in the 2000s, with a GY of 5054 kg ha⁻¹, 7041 kg ha⁻¹ and 7874 kg ha⁻¹, respectively, for the three decades. The increase in ET was not in proportion to the increase in GY, resulting improved water use efficiency (WUE). The increase in ET was possibly related to the increase in leaf stomatal conductance with renewing in cultivars. The less increase in water use with more increase in grain production could be partly attributed to the significant increase in harvest index. The results showed that with new cultivars and improved management practices it was possible to further increase grain production without much increase in water use.     

An evaluation of the net radiation sub-model in the ASCE standardized reference evapotranspiration equation: Implications for evapotranspiration prediction

Net radiation (R_n) is a key component of the surface energy balance, but it is expensive and difficult to measure accurately. For these reasons, R_n is often predicted in evapotranspiration (ET) calculations with a model requiring measurements of incoming shortwave radiation, air temperature, and vapor pressure. We compared R_n predictions from the R_n sub-model used in the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) standardized reference ET equation to mean R_n measurements from five 4-component reference net radiometers. The radiometers were part of a recent comparison study of multiple net radiometer models conducted over irrigated and clipped turfgrass in northern Utah (Blonquist et al., 2009). In the R_n model, net shortwave radiation is determined by direct measurement of solar radiation and an assumed value of albedo for the surface (0.23 for fully vegetated surfaces), and net longwave radiation is calculated with a Brunt (1932, 1952) approach for predicting net surface emissivity, calculated from near surface vapor pressure. Additionally, the ratio of measured incoming shortwave radiation to predicted clear-sky shortwave radiation is used as a surrogate variable for cloud cover in the net longwave radiation calculation. Relative to the reference R_n measurements (average of five 4-component net radiometers), modeled R_n was high during the day by an average of 8.6% and high in magnitude (more negative) at night by an average of 13.4% over hourly time intervals. Daily total R_n calculated by summing the hourly model predictions was always higher than the reference measurements, by an average of 8.1%, whereas daily total R_n calculated from the model over daily time intervals was closer to the reference measurements, 2% high on average. The model R_n error during the day was partly caused by the assumption in the model that surface albedo is a constant value of 0.23. Measurements showed albedo ranged from approximately 0.21 at solar noon to 0.30 near the beginning and end of the day, with a mean value of 0.23. However, most of the model R_n error was due to the prediction of net longwave radiation, where the empirical equation in the model typically yielded values that were too low in magnitude (less negative), by approximately 20% on average, but the error was dependent on time of day. The R_n error at night was largely caused by the inability to measure the surrogate for cloud cover at night, which relies on measurement of solar radiation from a previous time period of sufficient solar zenith angle. All five of the net radiometer models tested in the comparison study matched the mean of the reference net radiometers better than the ASCE model. When modeled hourly R_n was used to calculate ET over hourly time intervals, or when hourly ET values were summed to yield daily ET, ET was typically high, by 6% on average, relative to ET calculated from measured reference R_n. When modeled R_n was calculated over daily time intervals and used to calculate ET over daily time intervals, ET was more accurate, 1% high on average, relative to ET calculated over daily time intervals from measured reference R_n. While new models for R_n are being developed, the sub-model in the ASCE standardized reference ET equation has been in use for the past two decades in thousands of ET stations. As newer models are developed we hope to use this data set to evaluate them.     

基于气温预报和HS公式的不同生育期参考作物腾发量预报

根据南京站2001-2011年实测气象数据,以Penman-Monteith(PM)公式计算得到的参考作物腾发量ET0值作为基准值,对仅需要气温数据计算参考作物腾发量的Hargreaves-Samani(HS)公式进行参数率定,采用率定后的HS公式依据2012年6月-2015年6月气温预报数据对南京水稻、冬小麦不同生育期未来1~7d的ET0进行预报,并与基于实测气象数据的PM法计算的ET0值进行比较,评价HS法的ET0预报精度。结果表明:最低、最高气温实测值与预报值相关系数分别为0.97和0.93,最低气温预报精度略高于最高气温;预见期1~7d内,水稻、冬小麦不同生育期ET0预报值与PM法计算值变化趋势基本一致,整个生育期内冬小麦ET0预报值与PM法计算值吻合程度更好,水稻、冬小麦相关系数分别达0.60、0.80左右;水稻各生育期平均准确率为66.0%~97.5%,平均绝对误差为0.65~1.22mm/d,均方根误差为0.76~1.42mm/d,冬小麦各生育期平均准确率为75.4%~99.5%,平均绝对误差为0.33~1.06mm/d,均方根误差为0.43~1.23mm/d;作物生育期各阶段对气温预报误差越敏感,ET0预报精度越低,随着生育期的推进,水稻对气温预报误差的敏感程度逐渐减小,相应的ET0预报精度逐渐增加,而冬小麦反之;但整体上预见期1~7d的气温预报及ET0预报精度达到可利用程度,可为快速灌溉预报及灌溉决策提供数据支撑。     

基于遥感DSI指数的干旱与冬小麦产量相关性分析

利用2000—2012年MODIS ET/PET和NDVI数据集构建干旱指数(DSI),监测山东省和河南省冬小麦主产区的农业干旱,并在地级市尺度上进一步评估冬小麦关键生育期干旱对冬小麦产量的影响。结果表明:2010年9月—2011年2月山东省特大干旱过程显示的DSI不仅能监测气象干旱,还能较好地反映农业干旱在空间上的差异性以及时间上的演变。不同冬小麦生育期干旱对冬小麦产量影响不同,灌浆期干旱对冬小麦产量的影响最大,干旱致使土壤水分亏缺,影响了作物正常的灌浆强度,进而导致作物减产;其次是拔节期;返青期干旱对产量基本没有影响。     

参考作物蒸散量对气象要素的敏感性分析

为了研究参考作物蒸散量(ET_0)对气象要素的敏感性,利用新乡地区1951―2003年逐日气象资料,由Penman-Manteith公式计算参考作物蒸散量,采用敏感曲线和敏感系数方法分析了参考作物蒸散量对气象要素的敏感性。结果表明,温度、风速和日照时间3种气象要素与ET_0正相关,相对湿度与ET_0负相关。1―12月,相对湿度和风速的敏感系数表现为"先减小后增大"趋势,而日照时间和温度敏感系数表现为"先增大后减小"趋势。在全年中,ET_0对气象要素的敏感程度表现为相对湿度风速日照时间温度;第一、四季度各气象要素在季尺度中的敏感性均为相对湿度风速日照时间温度,第二季度表现为相对湿度日照时间风速温度,第三季度表现为相对湿度日照时间温度风速;冬小麦生育期典型时段内各气象要素敏感性在1、3、10月份均表现为相对湿度风速日照时间温度,5月则表现为相对湿度日照时间风速温度。     

干旱荒漠草原应用Penman-Monteith与Penman修正式计算ET0的偏差分析

甘肃天祝草原位于我国西北干旱荒漠草原,应用天祝县二道墩试验站2005年的实测气象资料,利用Penman-Monteith公式和Penman修正式计算参考作物腾发量(ET0)并进行了比较。Penman修正式计算的参考作物腾发量ET0值略小于Penman-Monteith公式计算的值,最大绝对偏差0.5 mm/d。分析发现生育期辐射项ETrad是导致参考作物腾发量ET0产生偏差的主要原因。2种方法计算的空气动力项ETaero差别较小,最大绝对偏差不超过0.2 mm/d。导致计算偏差的原因在于2种公式采用了不同的辐射项和空气动力学项计算公式和参数。2个公式计算的参考作物腾发量具有显著的线性相关性。     

A consolidated evaluation of the FAO-56 dual crop coefficient approach using the lysimeter data in the North China Plain

The main purpose of this paper was to evaluate whether or not the dual crop coefficient (DCC) method proposed in FAO-56 was suitable for calculating the actual daily evapotranspiration of the main crops (winter wheat and summer maize) in the North China Plain (NCP). The results were evaluated with the data measured by the large-scale weighing lysimeter at the Yucheng Comprehensive Experimental Station (YCES) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) from 1998 to 2005 using the Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE), the root mean square error (RMSE) and the root mean square error to observations’ standard deviation ratio (RSR). The evaluation results showed that the DCC method performed effective in simulating the quantity of seasonal evapotranspiration for winter wheat but was inaccurate in calculating the peak values. The RMSE value of the winter wheat during the total growing season was less than 0.9 mm/d, the NSE and RSR values during the total growing stage were “Very Good”, but the results for summer maize were “Unsatisfactory”. The recommended basal crop coefficient values K_cbtab during the initial, mid-season and end stages for winter wheat and summer maize were modified and the variation scope of basal crop coefficient K_cb was analyzed. The K_c (compositive crop coefficient, K_c = ET_c/ET₀, ET_c here is the observed values by lysimeter, ET₀ is the reference evapotranspiration) values were estimated using observed weighing lysimeter data during the corresponding stages for winter wheat and summer maize were 0.80, 1.15, 1.25, 0.95; 0.90, 0.95, 1.25, 1.00, respectively. These can be a reference for irrigation planning.     

Effects of a shading screen on microclimate and crop water requirements

Despite the steadily increasing area under protected agriculture there is a current lack of knowledge about the effects of the 30% black shading screen on microclimate and crop water requirements. Meteorological and lysimeter measurements inside a screenhouse planted with sweet pepper were compared to external reference data. Irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE) was calculated from yield records Y and water meter readings I _applied. Shading reduced mean global radiation R _G by more than 40%, and the screen transmissivity τ _screen was shown to vary with solar elevation angle β. Wind speed inside the screenhouse u _in was reduced by more than 50%. Crop water requirements ET _c were 38% lower than estimates for an open field crop, suggesting a significant water saving potential when using screenhouses. However, the screen did not significantly modify maximum temperature T _max and daily vapor pressure deficit. The FAO-Penman–Monteith approach based on meteorological measurements in the screenhouse accurately predicted daily crop evapotranspiration, and was in close agreement with lysimeter measurements. IWUE was relatively high (10.7 kg m⁻³ in 2004 and 13.5 kg m⁻³ in 2005), but additional research is required to quantify the effect of shading on yield as well as to determine the water saving potential of other commonly used screens. Contribution no. 603/06 from the Agricultural Research Organization An erratum to this article can be found at     

基于SIMDual_Kc模型估算非充分灌水条件下冬小麦蒸散量

为研究关中冬小麦植株蒸腾和土壤蒸发规律,利用2 a冬小麦小区控水试验实测数据,率定和验证了双作物系数SIMDual_Kc模型在关中地区的适用性.用大型称重式蒸渗仪的实测蒸散量值(或水量平衡法计算值)与模型模拟值进行对比.结果表明:SIMDualKc模型可较准确地模拟关中不同水分条件下冬小麦蒸散量,且模拟精度较高.模型估算的平均绝对误差为0.643 3 mm/d.模型估算的冬小麦初期、中期和后期的基础作物系数分别为0.35,1.30,0.20.另外,模型还可以较准确地估算不同水分供应条件下的土壤水分胁迫系数、土壤蒸发量和植株蒸散量.冬小麦整个生育期,土壤蒸发主要发生在作物生育前期,中期较低,后期略微增大;植株蒸腾主要发生在作物快速生长期和生长中期,整个生育期中呈先增大后减小的趋势.     

京郊平原参考作物腾发量及其与气象因子相关性研究

利用FAO56 Penman-Montieth公式和京郊平原区代表性气象站点的长系列、短时序气象资料计算了该地区的逐日ET0,对ET0及其各分项的时间变异特征进行了分析,采用相关分析法研究了ET0与主要气象影响因子间的关系。结果表明,研究区域近50年来ET0呈不显著的增加趋势,就其各分项来说,辐射项的年际变化幅度较小,而空气动力学项的年际波动较大,且与ET0的年际波动较为符合;ET0的年内变化呈"单峰形"分布,一年内的最大值出现在6月份,为162.6 mm,最小值则出现在12月份,为32.3 mm。从ET0的分项来看,5~9月份ETrad>ETaero,而其余月份ETrad相似文献   

基于增强回归树的麦-玉轮作农田蒸散影响因素分析

为探讨华北典型轮作农田蒸散(ET)变化规律,以山东禹城试验站冬小麦-夏玉米(麦-玉)轮作田为研究对象,基于涡度相关技术实测的8年观测数据与增强回归树方法,分析了农田ET逐日变化特征及其对环境因子的响应。结果表明：研究时段内逐日ET变化范围在0～9.6 mm/d之间,且不同阶段(小麦季、玉米季和农闲期)ET总量存在较大差异。一般而言,每年小麦季ET的峰值和总量均明显高于玉米季,而农闲期ET占全年ET总量的比例不足4%。净辐射是影响麦-玉轮作田不同阶段ET变化的首要因素,对各阶段ET的贡献率由高到低依次为小麦季(81.4%)、玉米季(52.7%)、农闲期(36.8%)。除净辐射外,其他环境因子对ET的影响则具有阶段性差异。饱和水汽压差对小麦季和玉米季ET存在一定的影响,而土壤含水率和风速对农闲期ET的贡献率相对较高。研究可为变化环境下农业水资源高效利用以及作物模型优化等提供科学依据。     

山西地区近55年参考作物蒸散量的变化特征及其主要影响因素分析

利用1955—2009年山西地区5个站点(大同、阳泉、太原、吕梁和临汾)逐日气象资料,采用FAO推荐的Penman-Monteith公式计算参考作物蒸散量(ET0),分析了不同地区的气象要素(温度、相对湿度、日照时数和风速)和年ET0随时间变化特征,并采用敏感性分析方法对影响ET0变化的主要气候因子进行了探讨。结果表明,5个站点平均温度和平均相对湿度从低纬度到高纬度逐渐增大;而平均风速和平均日照时数则逐渐减小。5站点的多年平均温度随时间有平缓上升趋势。大同和阳泉的年ET0高于其他站点,其他站差异不明显。4气象要素中对大同、太原和吕梁站ET0影响最大的要素为相对湿度,对临汾站ET0影响最大的要素为日照时数,温度变化对各站点ET0的影响作用最小。     

Using energy balance data for assessing evapotranspiration and crop coefficients in a Mediterranean vineyard

Improving water use efficiency is a key element of water management in irrigated viticulture, especially in arid or semi-arid areas. In this study, the micrometeorological technique “Eddy Covariance” was used to directly quantify the crop evapotranspiration (ET) and to analyze the complex relationships between evapotranspiration, energy fluxes, and meteorological conditions. Both observed Direct measurements (DIR) of latent heat flux (LE) and observed from the residual of the energy balance (REB) equation were used for crop evapotranspiration calculations. Observed crop coefficients (K _cms) were then determined using the standardized reference evapotranspiration (ET_o) equation for short canopies. In addition, linear approximations from observations were used to model the seasonal trend lines for crop coefficients and K _cs values were parameterized by first identifying the beginning and end of each growth stage. The modeled K _cs values were used to predict daily ET from ET_o measurements and compared with values from literature. The daily observed DIR ET values (ET_do) were lower than REB ET (ET_ro) during periods with precipitation, but they were similar during dry periods, which implies that energy balance closure is better when the surface is drier. Comparisons between modeled ET and crop ET estimated using K _c values from best agreement was observed between the modeled REB and FAO 56 and the local K _c values provided by the Regional Agency ARPAS showed good agreement with observed ET (from DIR and REB data) than the FAO 56 ones. The study confirmed that the availability of locally driven K _c could be relevant to quantify the crop water requirement and represents the starting point for a sustainable management of water resources.     

中国粮食主产区主要气象因子时空演变特征及其对参考作物蒸散量影响

准确评估粮食主产区气象因子变化特征及对参考作物蒸散量(reference crop evapotranspiration,ET0)的影响,对农田水文循环、区域农业水资源优化配置与高效利用等具有重要意义。利用中国粮食主产区258个气象站点1961―2013年的逐日气象资料,采用Penman-Monteith公式计算ET0,通过M-K趋势检验法、偏相关分析、多元线性回归计算贡献率等方法,分析了1961—2013年中国粮食主产区主要气象因子时空演变及其对ET0变化的贡献特征。结果表明,1961—2013年中国粮食主产区相对湿度、温度、降水在空间上由南至北呈降低趋势,而日照时间和风速则由南至北呈增高趋势;1961—2013年中国粮食主产区全区、温带湿润半湿润地区(I区)、温带干旱半干旱地区(II区)、亚热带湿润地区(III区)及暖温带半湿润地区(IV区)多年平均气温均呈增大趋势,平均风速、相对湿度、降水与日照时间均呈减小趋势;1961—2013年中国粮食主产区年内ET0均呈锯齿状下降,且ET0在四季呈现出夏季春季秋季冬季的特征;多年平均风速、气温、日照时间与ET0在全区及各分区总体均显著正相关(P0.05),而相对湿度与ET0在全区及各分区均极显著负相关(P0.01);1961—2013年中国粮食主产区全区及I~IV区气温、风速、相对湿度对ET0变化均具有较大贡献,其中相对湿度为I区、III区及IV区的主要气象驱动因子,其次为平均气温和风速;而II区ET0变化的主要驱动因子为风速,其平均贡献率WII(风速)为0.37;综上所述,中国粮食主产区主要气象因子变化特征与ET0的响应,均呈现出区域性、季节性差异。     

Sprinkler irrigation scheduling of winter wheat in the North China Plain using a 20 cm standard pan

Based on evaporation from a 20 cm diameter pan placed above the crop canopy, sprinkler irrigation scheduling of winter wheat was studied in the North China Plain (NCP) in the 2001–2004 winter wheat seasons. Results showed that pan evaporation (E _pan,C) was closely related to actual evapotranspiration (ET) measured using weighing lysimeters. The combined pan–crop coefficient (K _c,pan), the ratio of ET to E _pan,C, was closely related to leaf area index (LAI ) and plant height. Data from the 2002–2003 season were used to establish the relationships between K _c,pan and LAI (method A) or plant height (method B), and used to determine the crop coefficient (method C). ET computed by the three methods was compared with measured ET using lysimeters in the 2001–2002 and 2003–2004 seasons. Mean relative error of estimated daily ET by the three methods ranged from 20 to 30%, and the relative error in cumulative ET in the experimental periods ranged from 1 to 19%. Among the three methods, results from methods A and B were not significantly different from each other (P > 0.01), and were closer to the lysimeter data than results from method C (P < 0.001). Method B, being easier to measure, was recommended for ET estimation in NCP.     

Measuring versus estimating net radiation and soil heat flux: Impact on Penman–Monteith reference ET estimates in semiarid regions

The standardized ASCE Penman–Monteith and FAO-56 equations were used to estimate reference evapotranspiration (ET₀) using estimated and measured net radiation (R_n) and soil heat flux (G), based on hourly and daily meteorological data. The estimates were evaluated against lysimeter measurements. The results indicate that using measured or estimated values of R_n and G can have significant effect on the accuracy of the ET₀ estimations, especially when calculations were made on an hourly basis. The FAO-56 version performed very well during the irrigation season on a daily basis. The use of measured R_n and G did not improve ET₀ estimation on a daily basis, therefore, the use of estimated R_n and G appears to be dependable when calculations are based on 24-h weather data. When daily ET₀ was calculated from hourly estimations, the results were different depending on the version used. The ASCE version was more accurate, especially when R_n and G were measured. Therefore, measurement of R_n and G may have potential to improve estimation only when daily ET₀ is calculated from hourly estimations. The PM FAO-56 version was always a little less accurate than the ASCE version. For hourly calculations, using a constant surface resistance (as in FAO-56 version), the PM method underpredicted for high evaporative demand and vice versa. The ASCE version performed better than PM FAO-56 version when R_n and G were measured and estimated. Therefore, ASCE version tended to provide quite accurate values of hourly ET₀, even using estimated values of R_n and G. As conclusion, the methods proposed by FAO-56 for estimating R_n and G tended to produce accurate estimates for daily and hourly ET₀ under semiarid conditions and can be used with some degree of confidence for estimating ET₀. In addition, results suggest that the ASCE standardized equation on an hourly basis improved the accuracy of ET₀ estimation with respect to the FAO-56 version.