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Evapotranspiration from a shortgrass prairie subjected to water and nitrogen treatments
Author(s) -
Lauenroth W. K.,
Sims Phillip L.
Publication year - 1976
Publication title -
water resources research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.863
H-Index - 217
eISSN - 1944-7973
pISSN - 0043-1397
DOI - 10.1029/wr012i003p00437
Subject(s) - evapotranspiration , nitrogen , environmental science , water balance , hydrology (agriculture) , soil water , growing season , nitrogen balance , agronomy , zoology , soil science , chemistry , ecology , biology , geology , geotechnical engineering , organic chemistry
Evapotranspiration was estimated by the water balance method for three water and nitrogen treatments and a control in a shortgrass prairie in northeastern Colorado in 1971,1972, and 1973. Nitrogen was applied at a rate of 150 kg/ha to maintain soil mineral nitrogen levels greater than or equal to 50 kg/ha above control levels with and without supplemental water. The water treatment maintained soil water potential greater than −0.8 bar during the growing season and was applied with and without nitrogen. Evapotranspiration for the control and unwatered nitrogen treatments was not different and ranged from 118 to 226 mm over the 3 years. The 3‐year averages of evapotranspiration for the water and water plus nitrogen treatments were 505 and 578 mm, respectively. Evapotranspiration for the water plus nitrogen treatment agreed with potential evapotranspiration predicted by Penman's model.