Modeling Evapotranspiration and Crop Growth of Irrigated and Non-Irrigated Corn in the Texas High Plains Using RZWQM

2018 ◽  
Vol 61 (5) ◽  
pp. 1653-1666 ◽  
Author(s):  
Huihui Zhang ◽  
Robert Wayne Malone ◽  
Liwang Ma ◽  
Lajpat R. Ahuja ◽  
Saseendran S. Anapalli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Stress ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Root Zone ◽  
Potential Evapotranspiration ◽  
Water Productivity ◽  
Stress Factors ◽  
Irrigated Agriculture ◽  
High Plains ◽  
Area Index

Abstract. Accurate quantification and management of crop evapotranspiration (ET) are critical to optimizing crop water productivity for both dryland and irrigated agriculture, especially in the semiarid regions of the world. In this study, four weighing lysimeters in Bushland, Texas, were planted to maize in 1994 with two fully irrigated and two non-irrigated for measuring crop ET. The Root Zone Water Quality Model (RZWQM2) was used to evaluate soil water balance and crop production with potential evapotranspiration (PET) estimated from either the Shuttleworth-Wallace method (PTSW) or the ASCE standardized alfalfa reference ET multiplied by crop coefficients (PTASCE). As a result, two water stress factors were defined from actual transpiration (AT) and were tested in the model against the lysimeter data, i.e., AT/PTSW and AT/PTASCE. For both water stress factors, the simulated daily ET values were reasonably close to the measured values, with underestimated ET during mid-growing stage in both non-irrigated lysimeters. Root mean squared deviations (RMSDs) and relative RMSDs (RMSD/observed mean) values for leaf area index, biomass, soil water content, and daily ET were within simulation errors reported earlier in the literature. For example, the RMSDs of simulated daily ET were less than 1.52 mm for all irrigated and non-irrigated lysimeters. Overall, ET was simulated within 3% of the measured data for both fully irrigated lysimeters and undersimulated by less than 11% using both stress factors for the non-irrigated lysimeters. Our results suggest that both methods are promising for simulating crop production and ET under irrigated conditions, but the methods need to be improved for dryland and non-irrigated conditions. Keywords: ET, RZWQM modeling, Stress factor, Weighing lysimeter.

scholarly journals Modeling the monthly mean soil-water balance with a statistical-dynamical ecohydrology model as coupled to a two-component canopy model

2010 ◽  
Vol 14 (10) ◽  
pp. 2099-2120 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. P. Kochendorfer ◽  
J. A. Ramírez
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Water Stress ◽  
Water Balance ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Soil Texture ◽  
Root Zone ◽  
Soil Water Balance ◽  
Area Index ◽  
Two Component ◽  
Canopy Model

Abstract. The statistical-dynamical annual water balance model of Eagleson (1978) is a pioneering work in the analysis of climate, soil and vegetation interactions. This paper describes several enhancements and modifications to the model that improve its physical realism at the expense of its mathematical elegance and analytical tractability. In particular, the analytical solutions for the root zone fluxes are re-derived using separate potential rates of transpiration and bare-soil evaporation. Those potential rates, along with the rate of evaporation from canopy interception, are calculated using the two-component Shuttleworth-Wallace (1985) canopy model. In addition, the soil column is divided into two layers, with the upper layer representing the dynamic root zone. The resulting ability to account for changes in root-zone water storage allows for implementation at the monthly timescale. This new version of the Eagleson model is coined the Statistical-Dynamical Ecohydrology Model (SDEM). The ability of the SDEM to capture the seasonal dynamics of the local-scale soil-water balance is demonstrated for two grassland sites in the US Great Plains. Sensitivity of the results to variations in peak green leaf area index (LAI) suggests that the mean peak green LAI is determined by some minimum in root zone soil moisture during the growing season. That minimum appears to be close to the soil matric potential at which the dominant grass species begins to experience water stress and well above the wilting point, thereby suggesting an ecological optimality hypothesis in which the need to avoid water-stress-induced leaf abscission is balanced by the maximization of carbon assimilation (and associated transpiration). Finally, analysis of the sensitivity of model-determined peak green LAI to soil texture shows that the coupled model is able to reproduce the so-called "inverse texture effect", which consists of the observation that natural vegetation in dry climates tends to be most productive in sandier soils despite their lower water holding capacity. Although the determination of LAI based on complete or near-complete utilization of soil moisture is not a new approach in ecohydrology, this paper demonstrates its use for the first time with a new monthly statistical-dynamical model of the water balance. Accordingly, the SDEM provides a new framework for studying the controls of soil texture and climate on vegetation density and evapotranspiration.

scholarly journals Modeling the monthly mean soil-water balance with a statistical-dynamical ecohydrology model as coupled to a two-component canopy model

2008 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 579-648
Author(s):  
J. P. Kochendorfer ◽  
J. A. Ramírez
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Water Stress ◽  
Water Balance ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Soil Texture ◽  
Root Zone ◽  
Soil Water Balance ◽  
Area Index ◽  
Two Component ◽  
Canopy Model

Abstract. The statistical-dynamical annual water balance model of Eagleson (1978) is a pioneering work in the analysis of climate, soil and vegetation interactions. This paper describes several enhancements and modifications to the model that improve its physical realism at the expense of its mathematical elegance and analytical tractability. In particular, the analytical solutions for the root zone fluxes are re-derived using separate potential rates of transpiration and bare-soil evaporation. Those potential rates, along with the rate of evaporation from canopy interception, are calculated using the two-component Shuttleworth-Wallace (1985) canopy model. In addition, the soil column is divided into two layers, with the upper layer representing the dynamic root zone. The resulting ability to account for changes in root-zone water storage allows for implementation at the monthly timescale. This new version of the Eagleson model is coined the Statistical-Dynamical Ecohydrology Model (SDEM). The ability of the SDEM to capture the seasonal dynamics of the local-scale soil-water balance is demonstrated for two grassland sites in the US Great Plains. Sensitivity of the results to variations in peak green Leaf Area Index (LAI) suggests that the mean peak green LAI is determined by some minimum in root zone soil moisture during the growing season. That minimum appears to be close to the soil matric potential at which the dominant grass species begins to experience water stress and well above the wilting point, thereby suggesting an ecological optimality hypothesis in which the need to avoid water-stress-induced leaf abscission is balanced by the maximization of carbon assimilation (and associated transpiration). Finally, analysis of the sensitivity of model-determined peak green LAI to soil texture shows that the coupled model is able to reproduce the so-called "inverse texture effect", which consists of the observation that natural vegetation in dry climates tends to be most productive in sandier soils despite their lower water holding capacity. Although the determination of LAI based on near-complete utilization of soil moisture is not a new approach in ecohydrology, this paper demonstrates its use for the first time with a new monthly statistical-dynamical model of the water balance. Accordingly, the SDEM provides a new framework for studying the controls of soil texture and climate on vegetation density and evapotranspiration.

Simulating Evapotranspiration and Yield Response of Selected Corn Varieties under Full and Limited Irrigation in the Texas High Plains Using DSSAT-CERES-Maize

2017 ◽  
Vol 60 (3) ◽  
pp. 837-846 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gary W. Marek ◽  
Thomas H. Marek ◽  
Qingwu Xue ◽  
Prasanna H. Gowda ◽  
Steven R. Evett ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Stress ◽  
Root Zone ◽  
Primary Objective ◽  
Yield Response ◽  
Groundwater Depletion ◽  
High Plains ◽  
Crop Modeling ◽  
Maize Crop ◽  
Area Index ◽  
Irrigation Treatments

Abstract. Water scarcity due to drought and groundwater depletion has led to increased interest in deficit irrigation strategies that reduce irrigation requirements while maintaining profitable yields. This has resulted in an increase in the number of modeling studies aimed at evaluating crop response to limited irrigation strategies. However, the ability of widely used crop simulation models to accurately represent responses to limited irrigation has not been thoroughly evaluated. The primary objective of this study was to determine the efficacy of DSSAT-CERES-Maize (ver. 4.6.1.0) to simulate leaf area index (LAI), crop evapotranspiration (ET), and yield response to full (100%) and limited (75% and 50%) irrigation regimes for two corn varieties. Comparisons of simulated and measured data from full and limited irrigation treatments of` two drought-tolerant corn hybrids (DuPont Pioneer AQUAmax P1151HR and Pioneer 33D49) grown in the Texas Panhandle in 2013 and 2014 were evaluated. Simulated in-season daily crop ET values for P1151HR grown in 2013 were also compared to those measured by precision large weighing lysimeters at Bushland, Texas. Additionally, a comparison of simulated and measured soil water content (SWC) within the root zone was performed for P1151HR grown in 2013. Simulated LAI for fully irrigated treatments approximated measured values reasonably well, although manipulation of plant genetic parameters failed to match measured LAI during the period between maximum LAI and the beginning of crop senescence in the 50% irrigation treatments. Similarly, simulated yield values approximated measured values for the fully irrigated treatments, while considerable overestimation of yield occurred in the limited irrigation treatments for both varieties. However, consistent overestimation of both LAI and yield for the limited irrigation treatments suggests a functional relationship between LAI and yield. Further, DSSAT overestimated crop ET by 16% for fully irrigated P1151HR and by 40% for limited irrigation treatments in 2013 as compared to measured lysimeter values. Corresponding underestimations of SWC were also observed in neutron probe measurements for both treatments. Overestimation of ET and yield and corresponding underestimation of SWC in limited irrigation treatments were mainly due to overestimation of LAI in those treatments, indicating a potential deficiency in the water stress algorithms. Additional comparisons of agronomic and lysimeter-based water balance data are needed to corroborate the findings of this study. Further investigations into the calculation of reference evapotranspiration (ETo), crop coefficients, and water stress functions in DSSAT are needed in order to provide suggestions for model improvement. Keywords: TCERES-Maize, Crop modeling, DSSAT, Evapotranspiration, Limited irrigation, Lysimeters, Maize, Semi-arid, Sprinkler irrigation, Weighing lysimeters.

Responses of spring wheat exposed to pre-anthesis water stress

1994 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
pp. 19 ◽  
Author(s):  
MJ Robertson ◽  
F Giunta
Keyword(s):  
Water Stress ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Spring Wheat ◽  
Root Zone ◽  
Biomass Partitioning ◽  
Growth And Yield ◽  
Extension Rate ◽  
Kernel Number ◽  
Area Index ◽  
Radiation Interception

Spring wheat cv. Yecora 70 was exposed to soil water deficits during three phases between emergence and anthesis: early (22 days after sowing to terminal spikelet), mid (terminal spikelet to anthesis) and late (early boot to anthesis). The objective was to quantify the effects of water stress on partitioning of above-ground biomass to the spike, the ratio between kernel number and anthesis spike weight, canopy expansion, radiation interception and phenology. This information can be used to test the assumptions used when modelling wheat growth and yield under water-limiting conditions. The extension rate of the lamina and pseudostem was reduced when more than 50% of the extractable soil water had been extracted from the root-zone, independent of the stage when stress was imposed. Stress reduced biomass accumulation more through a reduction of the amount of radiation intercepted than reduced radiation-use efficiency. The reduction in the amount of radiation intercepted was due to lower leaf area index, as the radiation extinction coefficient was similar under stress and non-stress conditions. Stress treatments reduced spike biomass at anthesis to 58-94% of that in the well-watered control, but had little effect on the pattern of biomass partitioning to the spike and the proportion of anthesis biomass as spike. Stress after terminal spikelet reduced the ratio of kernel number to anthesis spike weight by 50%, suggesting that reduced kernel number under stress may not be solely due to a restricted assimilate supply. This study showed that current assumptions are valid regarding the response of wheat to pre-anthesis stress in terms of canopy expansion, radiation interception and biomass partitioning to the spike. However, the constancy of the ratio of kernel number to anthesis spike weight was shown not to hold under water stress.

scholarly journals A MODEL FOR ESTIMATING ACTUAL EVAPOTRANSPIRATION FROM POTENTIAL EVAPOTRANSPIRATION

1975 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 170-188 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. J. KRISTENSEN ◽  
S. E. JENSEN
Keyword(s):  
Water Content ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Soil Water Content ◽  
Root Zone ◽  
Potential Evapotranspiration ◽  
Actual Evapotranspiration ◽  
Vegetation Density ◽  
Rainfall Distribution ◽  
Sugar Beets

A model for calculating the daily actual evapotranspiration based on the potential one is presented. The potential evapotranspiration is reduced according to vegetation density, water content in the root zone, and the rainfall distribution. The model is tested by comparing measured (EAm) and calculated (EAc) evapotranspirations from barley, fodder sugar beets, and grass over a four year period. The measured and calculated values agree within 10 %. The model also yields information on soil water content and runoff from the root zone.

scholarly journals THE WATER RELATIONS AND IRRIGATION REQUIREMENTS OF SUGAR CANE (SACCHARUM OFFICINARUM): A REVIEW

2011 ◽  
Vol 47 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-25 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. K. V. CARR ◽  
J. W. KNOX
Keyword(s):  
Water Stress ◽  
Water Relations ◽  
Sugar Cane ◽  
Root Zone ◽  
Water Productivity ◽  
Crop Coefficient ◽  
Saccharum Officinarum ◽  
Irrigation Scheduling ◽  
Background Information ◽  
Technology Choice

SUMMARYThe results of research on the water relations and irrigation needs of sugar cane are collated and summarized in an attempt to link fundamental studies on crop physiology to irrigation practices. Background information on the centres of production of sugar cane is followed by reviews of (1) crop development, including roots; (2) plant water relations; (3) crop water requirements; (4) water productivity; (5) irrigation systems and (6) irrigation scheduling. The majority of the recent research published in the international literature has been conducted in Australia and southern Africa. Leaf/stem extension is a more sensitive indicator of the onset of water stress than stomatal conductance or photosynthesis. Possible mechanisms by which cultivars differ in their responses to drought have been described. Roots extend in depth at rates of 5–18 mm d−1 reaching maximum depths of > 4 m in ca. 300 d providing there are no physical restrictions. The Penman-Monteith equation and the USWB Class A pan both give good estimates of reference crop evapotranspiration (ETo). The corresponding values for the crop coefficient (Kc) are 0.4 (initial stage), 1.25 (peak season) and 0.75 (drying off phase). On an annual basis, the total water-use (ETc) is in the range 1100–1800 mm, with peak daily rates of 6–15 mm d−1. There is a linear relationship between cane/sucrose yields and actual evapotranspiration (ETc) over the season, with slopes of about 100 (cane) and 13 (sugar) kg (ha mm)−1 (but variable). Water stress during tillering need not result in a loss in yield because of compensatory growth on re-watering. Water can be withheld prior to harvest for periods of time up to the equivalent of twice the depth of available water in the root zone. As alternatives to traditional furrow irrigation, drag-line sprinklers and centre pivots have several advantages, such as allowing the application of small quantities of water at frequent intervals. Drip irrigation should only be contemplated when there are well-organized management systems in place. Methods for scheduling irrigation are summarized and the reasons for their limited uptake considered. In conclusion, the ‘drivers for change’, including the need for improved environmental protection, influencing technology choice if irrigated sugar cane production is to be sustainable are summarized.

scholarly journals A semi-quantitative approach for modelling crop response to soil fertility: evaluation of the AquaCrop procedure

2014 ◽  
Vol 153 (7) ◽  
pp. 1218-1233 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. VAN GAELEN ◽  
A. TSEGAY ◽  
N. DELBECQUE ◽  
N. SHRESTHA ◽  
M. GARCIA ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Fertility ◽  
Grain Yield ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Water Productivity ◽  
Canopy Cover ◽  
Quantitative Approach ◽  
Fertility Level ◽  
Crop Response ◽  
Aquacrop Model

SUMMARYMost crop models make use of a nutrient-balance approach for modelling crop response to soil fertility. To counter the vast input data requirements that are typical of these models, the crop water productivity model AquaCrop adopts a semi-quantitative approach. Instead of providing nutrient levels, users of the model provide the soil fertility level as a model input. This level is expressed in terms of the expected impact on crop biomass production, which can be observed in the field or obtained from statistics of agricultural production. The present study is the first to describe extensively, and to calibrate and evaluate, the semi-quantitative approach of the AquaCrop model, which simulates the effect of soil fertility stress on crop production as a combination of slower canopy expansion, reduced maximum canopy cover, early decline in canopy cover and lower biomass water productivity. AquaCrop's fertility response algorithms are evaluated here against field experiments with tef (Eragrostis tef (Zucc.) Trotter) in Ethiopia, with maize (Zea mays L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in Nepal, and with quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) in Bolivia. It is demonstrated that AquaCrop is able to simulate the soil water content in the root zone, and the crop's canopy development, dry above-ground biomass development, final biomass and grain yield, under different soil fertility levels, for all four crops. Under combined soil water stress and soil fertility stress, the model predicts final grain yield with a relative root-mean-square error of only 11–13% for maize, wheat and quinoa, and 34% for tef. The present study shows that the semi-quantitative soil fertility approach of the AquaCrop model performs well and that the model can be applied, after case-specific calibration, to the simulation of crop production under different levels of soil fertility stress for various environmental conditions, without requiring detailed field observations on soil nutrient content.

scholarly journals Corn and Sorghum ET, E, Yield, and CWP as Affected by Irrigation Application Method: SDI versus Mid-Elevation Spray Irrigation

2019 ◽  
Vol 62 (5) ◽  
pp. 1377-1393
Author(s):  
Steven R. Evett ◽  
Gary W. Marek ◽  
Paul D. Colaizzi ◽  
David K. Brauer ◽  
Susan A. O’Shaughnessy
Keyword(s):  
Soil Water ◽  
Plant Height ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Water Productivity ◽  
High Plains ◽  
Full Irrigation ◽  
Crop Water ◽  
Neutron Probe ◽  
Crop Water Productivity ◽  
Evaporative Loss

Abstract. Greater than 80% of the irrigated area in the Southern High Plains is served by center-pivot irrigation, but the area served by subsurface drip irrigation (SDI) is increasing due to several factors including declining well yields and improved yields and crop water productivity (CWP), particularly for cotton. Not as well established is the degree to which the reduced soil water evaporation (E) in SDI systems affects the soil water balance, water available to the crop, and overall water savings. Grain corn ( L.) and sorghum ( L. Moench) were grown on four large weighing lysimeters at Bushland, Texas, in 2013 (corn), 2014 and 2015 (sorghum), and 2016 (corn). Evapotranspiration (ET) was measured using the lysimeters and using a neutron probe in the surrounding fields. Two of the lysimeters and surrounding fields were irrigated with SDI, and the other two were irrigated with mid-elevation spray application (MESA). The lysimeter-measured evaporative losses were 149 to 151 mm greater from sprinkler-irrigated corn fields than from SDI fields. When growing sorghum, the lysimeter-measured evaporative losses were 44 to 71 mm greater from sprinkler-irrigated fields than from SDI fields. The differences were affected by plant height and became smaller when plant height reached the height of the spray nozzles, indicating that the use of LEPA or LESA nozzles could decrease the evaporative losses from sprinkler-irrigated fields in this region with its high evaporative demand. Annual weather patterns also influenced the differences in evaporative loss, with increased differences in dry years. SDI reduced overall corn water use by 13% to 15%, as determined by neutron probe, while either not significantly affecting yield (2016) or increasing yield by up to 19% (2013) and increasing CWP by 37% (2013) to 13% (2016) as compared with MESA full irrigation. However, sorghum yield decreased by 15% and CWP decreased by 14% in 2014 when using SDI compared with MESA full irrigation due to an overly wet soil profile in the SDI fields and deep percolation that likely caused nutrient losses. In 2015, there were no significant sorghum yield differences between irrigation methods. Sorghum CWP was significantly greater (by 14%) in one SDI field in 2015 compared with MESA fully irrigated sorghum. Overall, sorghum CWP increased by 8% for SDI compared with MESA full irrigation in 2015. These results indicate that SDI will be successful for corn production in the Texas High Plains, but SDI is unlikely to benefit sorghum production. Keywords: Corn, Crop water productivity, Evaporative loss, Evapotranspiration, Irrigation application method, Sorghum, Water use efficiency, Weighing lysimeter.

Crop production and water-use. II. The development and validation of a water-use model for sugarbeet

1994 ◽  
Vol 123 (1) ◽  
pp. 15-24 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. J. C. Hamer ◽  
M. K. V. Carr ◽  
E. Wright
Keyword(s):  
Soil Water ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Area Index ◽  
Canopy Development ◽  
Three Phase ◽  
Different Depths ◽  
Soil Water Extraction ◽  
Development And Validation

SummaryAs a prerequisite for developing crop-yield/water-use functions for sugarbeet using the results of historical irrigation experiments, it was necessary to develop a water-use model which could operate with a limited data set. The general form of this model has been reported by Wright et al. (1994). In this paper the development and validation of the model for the sugarbeet crop is described.The canopy was modelled in terms of the leaf area index and the relative interception of incoming solar radiation using functions based on thermal time and time. Four phases of growth were identified: emergence, slow-growth, fast-growth and full-canopy. An empirical drought factor was included to allow for the effects of water stress on canopy development during the slow- and fastgrowth expansion phases. Root development was described using a three phase model: initial (temperature dependent), linear and maximum depth (both time dependent).Independent data previously reported from Broom's Barn Experimental Station were then used to validate the model in terms of its capacity to predict crop canopy development, with and without drought stress, soil water extraction at different depths and soil water deficits during the season. The study confirmed the validity of the model for predicting the water-use of sugarbeet.

Estimating water fluxes in Douglas-fir plantations

1985 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 701-707 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan J. Riha ◽  
Gaylon S. Campbell
Keyword(s):  
Soil Water ◽  
Root Zone ◽  
Potential Evapotranspiration ◽  
Field Measurements ◽  
Douglas Fir ◽  
Root Uptake ◽  
Richards Equation ◽  
Water Fluxes ◽  
Air Temperatures ◽  
Dimensional Finite Element

A model was developed to estimate water fluxes in Douglas-fir (Pseudotsugamenziesii (Mirb.) Franco) plantations using daily measurements of precipitation and maximum and minimum air temperatures. Soil water flow was modeled using a one-dimensional finite element solution to the Richards equation, with precipitation and root uptake of water included as source and sink terms. Soil hydraulic properties varied as a function of depth. Root uptake of water was based on an analog water uptake model modified to include root resistance and cylindrical flow of water. Potential evapotranspiration was calculated assuming leaf and air temperature did not differ and assuming stomatal conductance was dependent on the vapor density deficit of the air. Model validity was tested by comparing predictions with field measurements of soil water content made in the summer of 1978 at two locations in western Washington. In general, the model predicted the observed drying of the soil. Aspects of the simulated water budget for these Douglas-fir stands considered most significant were (i) the use of soil-stored water for transpiration in the summer, (ii) the net flux of water into the root zone from deeper in the soil during the summer, (iii) the dependence of water reaching the soil in the summer on the intensity of rainfall, (iv) the large percentage of the total transpiration that occurred in spring and fall, and (v) the large amount of water moving out of the soil profile in the winter.

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