Use of remote sensing to generate crop coefficient and estimate actual crop evapotranspiration

Arturo Reyes-Gonzalez, Christopher Hay, Jeppe Kjaersgaard, Christopher Neale

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

14 Scopus citations

Abstract

Irrigation water is limited in many regions of the world. Accurate estimation of crop water requirements allows proper irrigation management and water conservation. A method used for estimating crop water requirement is the use of reference evapotranspiration (ETo) and crop coefficient (Kc). The objectives of this study were to generate Kc and estimate actual evapotranspiration (ETc) in forage crops using remote sensing in Northern Mexico. Monthly clear sky imagery from Landsat 5 (path/row 30/42) from March to November 2011 were used. The Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) was calculated from reflectance of the red and near infrared bands. The relationship between NDVI derived from satellite images and Kc from literature was established. This relationship was used to create new Kc values for corn and alfalfa using additional overpass dates. The actual ET was estimated using new regional Kc and reference ET, which was estimated utilizing meteorological information from local agro-climatic stations. Results showed high coefficient of determination (r2) (0.97) between NDVI and Kc FAO-56, this relationship helped to generate new Kc curves for forage crops. The output of Kc values were multiplied by reference ET to estimate actual ET. The estimated crop water consumption on actual ET were 476 mm ha-1 for corn and 945 for alfalfa, saving 25 and 32% of irrigation water respectively. Remote sensing was a useful tool for generating local Kc and estimate accuracy of actual ET. Using this technology we can improve water management and conserve irrigation water.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationAmerican Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers Annual International Meeting 2015
PublisherAmerican Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers
Pages4374-4385
Number of pages12
ISBN (Electronic)9781510810501
StatePublished - 2015
EventAmerican Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers Annual International Meeting 2015 - New Orleans, United States
Duration: Jul 26 2015Jul 29 2015

Publication series

NameAmerican Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers Annual International Meeting 2015
Volume6

Conference

ConferenceAmerican Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers Annual International Meeting 2015
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityNew Orleans
Period7/26/157/29/15

Keywords

  • Crop coefficient
  • Crop water requirements
  • Evapotranspiration
  • Remote sensing

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Bioengineering
  • Agronomy and Crop Science

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