This is a brief educational article about what Evapotranspiration (ET) is, how it is measured, and how we could use it for Irrigation Scheduling. We will go through the basics that are useful to both researchers and commercial growers.
What is Evapotranspiration?
Evapotranspiration (ET) is a rate (e.g. inch per day) at which soil and plants release water into the atmosphere. ET is the sum of water loss through the processes of evaporation and transpiration. Evaporation is the water loss from either soil or plant surfaces. Transpiration occurs when water vapor moves out of leaf stomata (tiny pores on plant leaf surface).
Why do we measure ET? What will it tell us? What can we use it for?
Irrigation scheduling
Irrigation management is about determining when and how much water to apply for irrigation. If we know how much water is used by plants, we can calculate how much water to put back in the soil to avoid plant water stress (how much to irrigate). When our calculations show that soil water has dropped below a minimum level it is time to irrigate.
Estimate yield
For irrigated crops with full ground cover, most of ET is from transpiration. Transpiration losses are directly linked to crop yield (growth and productivity). This is because the pathway for transpiration and photosynthesis is the same. Both processes occur at the same rate through stomates (tiny pores on plant leaves). If there is no enough water in the soil, stomates close causing a decrease in transpiration and photosynthesis.
How do we measure it?
Estimation of ET
ET is driven by weather factors (solar radiation, temperature, humidity, wind) that determine the drying demand of the atmosphere. ET is usually estimated using complex mathematical equations and local weather data. These values are estimation of what is called reference ET (ET of a well-watered reference crop like alfalfa or grass) and need to be adjusted using a crop coefficient (Kc). Kc depends on the type of crop, planting date, and crop development stage. For example, larger canopies consume more water than smaller canopies and this is reflected in Kc. The adjusted reference ET (reference ET multiplied by Kc) is called crop ET (ETc).
Measurement of ET using Atmometer (ET gauge)
An atmometer mimics plants and like a mini-weather station can provide reference ET at a reasonable cost and with little effort. The value of ET is shown on a tube in front of a ruler on the atmometer. Growers or consultants can use an ET gauge to monitor how crop water based on their changing local weather.
Measurement of ET using BINA Pro (a multi-sensor unit)
BINA Pro is an easy to use system that uses a variety of sensors to calculate crop coefficient, reference ET and crop water use. Growers can use the unit to conduct daily measurements of crop ET and decide on how much water to apply to their plants.
ET and soil water balance
Consider the soil in your field as a bucket. It has a limited capacity for holding water (called soil water-holding capacity). If we put too much water in it, it’s not going to hold it and it will spill out (lost to deep percolation). Soil water balance can tell how much water to put back in the bucket (irrigate). Daily ET amounts (i.e. crop water use) are withdrawals from this bucket (soil storage) and rainfall or irrigation are a deposit to this storage. Account for these inputs and outputs and you know how much water is in the soil. Irrigate when soil water content drops below a minimum level.
What problems might one encounter as they try to use ET in their research? How would they overcome those problems?
Microclimate variability
Weather is highly variable and measurements taken a few miles from the field may not be representative of that field’s microclimate. Microclimate is simply local weather. Reference ET, therefore, needs to be estimated using local weather data.
Estimation errors
Mathematical models used to estimate ET have small estimation errors. The soil water balance equation may also have estimation errors because we cannot necessarily account for all the inputs and outputs. ET-based irrigation scheduling using the water balance approach should be verified periodically by checking soil moisture in the field with a soil moisture sensor.