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ARS Home » Plains Area » Bushland, Texas » Conservation and Production Research Laboratory » Soil and Water Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #82596
Title: EVAPOTRANSPIRATION OF IRRIGATED FESCUE GRASS COMPARED WITH COMPUTED REFERENCE ET

Author
item Howell, Terry
item Evett, Steven - Steve

Submitted to: Agronomy Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/19/1997
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Evapotranspiration (ET) from a mowed, well-watered grass is often used as the reference ET for irrigation scheduling models. The purpose of this study was to measure ET from fescue grass [Fescuea arundinaca (Shregb.), cv. Emerald Green] in a semi-arid environment and compare that data with reference ET computed using standard measured meterological data and the ASCE and FAO versions of the Penman-Monteith equation. Grass ET was measured using a 1.5 m by 1.5 m surface area weighing lysimeter that was 2.3 m deep containing an undisturbed soil monolith of Pullman clay loam (Torrertic Paleustoll) at Bushland, TX. The grass was irrigated with a subsurface drip system and mowed regularly. Measurements were made in 1996 and 1997. Daily grass ET rates ranged from below 1 mm/d to just over 12 mm/d. Both reference ET methods under-predicted daily grass ET. Results will be presented to show agreement between measured and computed net radiation and soil heat flux, and the application of these reference ET equations in a semi-arid environment will be discussed.