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ARS Home » Plains Area » Fort Collins, Colorado » Center for Agricultural Resources Research » Water Management and Systems Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #383911
Research Project: Improving the Sustainability of Irrigated Farming Systems in Semi-Arid Regions

Location: Water Management and Systems Research

Title: Two source energy balance maize evapotranspiration estimates using close-canopy mobile infrared sensors and upscaling methods under variable water stress conditions

Author
item KATIMBO, ABIA - University Of Nebraska
item RUDNICK, DAREN - University Of Nebraska
item LIANG, WEIZHEN - University Of Nebraska
item DeJonge, Kendall
item LO, TSZ - Mississippi State University
item FRANZ, TRENTON - University Of Nebraska
item GE, YUFENG - University Of Nebraska
item QIAO, XIN - University Of Nebraska
item KABENGE, ISA - Makerere University
item NAKABUYE, HOPE - University Of Nebraska
item DUAN, JIAMING - University Of Nebraska

Submitted to: Agricultural Water Management
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/30/2022
Publication Date: 10/22/2022
Citation: Katimbo, A., Rudnick, D.R., Liang, W., DeJonge, K.C., Lo, T.H., Franz, T., Ge, Y., Qiao, X., Kabenge, I., Nakabuye, H., Duan, J. 2022. Two source energy balance maize evapotranspiration estimates using close-canopy mobile infrared sensors and upscaling methods under variable water stress conditions. Agricultural Water Management. 274. Article e107972. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2022.107972.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2022.107972

Interpretive Summary: The two-source energy balance (TSEB) model was evaluated using ground-based remote sensing techniques for quantifying maize evapotranspiration (ET) under irrigated (full and deficit) and rainfed conditions in North Platte, Nebraska. Daily TSEB ET was computed using measured radiometeric temperature (Tr) from mobile thermal infrared sensors (IRTs) and compared to daily ET from a calibrated two-step method. The results suggest that ground-based remote sensing techniques can be used to collect accurate soil and canopy information to quantify ET using a TSEB model, which can aid in irrigation management and crop phenotyping.

Technical Abstract: Accurate estimation of crop evapotranspiration (ET), which accounts for water used by the crops can improve agricultural irrigation management as well as aid in the planning and management of water resources in arid and semi-arid environments. In this study, we evaluated the performance of a two-source energy balance (TSEB) model using ground-based remote sensing techniques for quantifying maize ET under irrigated (full and deficit) and rainfed conditions in North Platte, Nebraska. Daily TSEB ET was computed using measured radiometeric temperature (Tr) from mobile thermal infrared sensors (IRTs) and compared to daily ET from a calibrated two-step method. There were significant differences between mean TSEB ET estimated for rainfed and irrigated treatments (P < 0.0001 for full vs. rainfed; P = 0.0004 for deficit vs. rainfed), however no statistical differences were seen between full and deficit irrigated treatments (P = 0.142). The TSEB model using scaled mobile Tr performed well compared to calibrated two-step method with R2 of 0.70, a mean absolute error (MAE) of 0.71 mm d-1, and root mean square error (RMSE) of 0.42 mm d-1. Lower mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) in irrigated treatments (7.3 to 10.0%) as compared to rainfed (11.6 to 22.2%) suggests that the TSEB model was more accurate under non-water limiting conditions (i.e., fully irrigated). The results suggest that ground-based remote sensing techniques can be used to collect accurate soil and canopy information to quantify ET using a TSEB model, which can aid in irrigation management and crop phenotyping.