19. Evapotranspiration
Evapotranspiration (ET) is a crucial component of the hydrologic cycle, integrating both evaporation and transpiration processes, influencing water demand and resource management. Understanding ET is essential for effective agricultural practices, particularly in regions with limited water resources, as it depends on various climatic, crop, and soil factors. The chapter explores methods for estimating ET, measurement techniques, and the impacts of climate change on ET dynamics.
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What we have learnt
- Evapotranspiration is the total water loss from a vegetated surface due to evaporation and transpiration.
- Factors influencing evapotranspiration include climatic conditions, crop characteristics, soil properties, and management practices.
- Potential ET represents maximum losses under optimal conditions, while actual ET reflects the effects of varying moisture availability.
Key Concepts
- -- Evapotranspiration
- The total water loss from soil and vegetation due to the processes of evaporation and transpiration.
- -- Potential Evapotranspiration (PET)
- The maximum possible evaporation from a given area assuming optimal moisture conditions.
- -- Actual Evapotranspiration (AET)
- The actual measurement of evaporation that occurs under the prevailing conditions, usually less than PET.
- -- Crop Coefficient (Kc)
- A factor used to estimate ET of different crops based on crop type and growth stage.
- -- Measurement Techniques
- Methods to quantify ET, including lysimeters, atmometers, eddy covariance systems, and remote sensing.
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