Evaluating plant and canopy resistances of field-grown wheat from concurrent diurnal observations of leaf water potential,stomatal resistance,canopy temperature,and evapotranspiration flux

Concurrent observations of leaf water potential, stomatal diffusion resistance and canopy temperature were made on two plots of wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv. Anza) growing at Phoenix, Arizona under two different soil water conditions. These data were further complemented by weather observations and lysimeter measurements of total evaporative water loss from the plots. Transpiration fluxes for each plot were estimated by an aerodynamic-energy balance approach and compared with the lysimeter data. Plant resistances were computed from the transpiration flux results and the leaf water potential measurements using van den Honert's equation, while canopy resistances were also computed from the transpiration flux using Monteith's equation. The calculated plant resistance decreased by a factor of almost two from morning to mid-afternoon whereas the ratio of canopy and stomatal resistances was constant during most of the day.