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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 #398410
Research Project: Improving Crop Performance and Precision Irrigation Management in Semi-Arid Regions through Data-Driven Research, AI, and Integrated Models

Location: Water Management and Systems Research

Title: Maize evapotranspiration estimates using Planet Dove mini-satellites and field-level infra-red thermometers

Author
item CHÁVEZ, JOSÉ - Colorado State University
item Zhang, Huihui
item BROWN, ASHLEY - Colorado State University
item ANDALES, ALLAN - Colorado State University
item COSTA-FILHO, EDSON - Colorado State University

Submitted to: Applied Engineering in Agriculture
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/23/2023
Publication Date: 2/13/2024
Citation: Chávez, J.L., Zhang, H., Brown, A., Andales, A.A., Costa-Filho, E. 2024. Maize evapotranspiration estimates using Planet Dove mini-satellites and field-level infra-red thermometers. Applied Engineering in Agriculture. 40(1):69-78. https://doi.org/10.13031/aea.15703.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.13031/aea.15703

Interpretive Summary: Accurate estimation of maize actual evapotranspiration (ETa) is essential for farmers to make irrigation decisions and precisely manage limited irrigation water. Microsatellites (mS) are platforms that can provide frequent and high-resolution multispectral (MS) images over a farm. These images can be used to estimate maize ETa. In this study, we assessed the accuracy of maize ETa estimates using mS MS images with two different methods. Two research sites in northern Colorado, USA were used. An Eddy Covariance energy balance system was used to assess the accuracy of distributed ETa estimates. Results indicate that the reflectance-based crop coefficient method can be used with mS images yielding acceptable estimates. However, estimates of ETa were more accurate when reflectance images were paired with ground-based surface temperature data. These results imply that maize ETa could be mapped on a daily basis with acceptable accuracy using mS-based reflectance images and ground-based surface temperatures.

Technical Abstract: Microsatellites (mS) are platforms that can provide frequent and high spatial and temporal resolution multispectral (MS) images. These images can be used to estimate maize actual evapotranspiration (ETa). Thus, the main objective of this study was to assess the accuracy of maize ETa estimates when mS MS images are used in two different ETa algorithms. This study was conducted at two research sites in northern Colorado, USA. An Eddy Covariance energy balance system was used to assess the accuracy of distributed ETa estimates. Results indicate that the reflectance-based crop coefficient method can be used with mS images yielding acceptable estimates. However, estimates of ETa were more accurate when reflectance images were paired with ground-based surface temperature data. These results imply that maize ETa could be mapped on a daily basis with acceptable accuracy using mS-based reflectance images and ground-based surface temperatures.