ISHS Acta Horticulturae 278: Symposium on Scheduling of Irrigation for Vegetable Crops under Field Condition
IRRIGATION SCHEDULING WITH AN EVAPOTRANSPIRATION MODEL:A VERIFICATION STUDY |
| Author: | Y. Mahrer |
| Abstract:
Actual evapotranspiration (ETa) of irrigated fields is a crucial parameter which has to be considered when making decisions on irrigation amount and timing. In order to evaluate it more precisely than by traditional methods, we applied a numerical model which simulates, in real time, the different energy fluxes existing in the soil-plant-atmosphere system. The model requires input of vegetation parameters (leaf area index, photometric properties, shading factor, root density distribution), soil parameters (texture, hydraulic and photometric properties), and temporal micrometeorological data (solar radiation, wind speed, air temperature and humidity) measured above the field. Thus, it can be applied to any crop and soil. In addition to ETa, the model computes the representative foliage temperature, and the soil moisture and temperature profiles. The model was experimentally verified with ETa measurements by eddy correlation and/or Bowen ratio methods. The verification study was carried out during several growing seasons of cotton in three different climatic regions in Israel (coast, Galilee, and Dead Sea). Results show that the model calculates accurately ETa, and, therefor, can be used in lieu of complicated ETa measuring equipment. | |
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