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Transpiration Evaluation of Corn Grown on a Plastic‐Covered Lysimeter
Author(s) -
Harrold L. L.,
Peters D. B.,
Dreibelbis F. R.,
McGuinness J. L.
Publication year - 1959
Publication title -
soil science society of america journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.836
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1435-0661
pISSN - 0361-5995
DOI - 10.2136/sssaj1959.03615995002300020027x
Subject(s) - lysimeter , evapotranspiration , environmental science , transpiration , evaporation , infiltration (hvac) , groundwater recharge , growing season , water content , hydrology (agriculture) , soil water , agronomy , soil science , chemistry , geology , materials science , groundwater , geography , ecology , biochemistry , photosynthesis , geotechnical engineering , meteorology , aquifer , composite material , biology
Corn grown on plastic‐covered monolith lysimeters at Coshocton showed that a very good crop was produced using only the water stored in the soil. A yield of 125 bushels per acre was obtained by using only 8.5 inches of water from the soil. From June 6 to September 9 when the cover was in place, estimated evaporation and measured transpiration amounts were an approximate 45:55 ratio. For the entire growing season, May 1 to September 9, it was estimated that the evapotranspiration would be composed of 56% evaporation and 44% transpiration. Estimated soil moisture evaporation was compared with actual pan evaporation. The ratio of soil to pan evaporation was found to vary from nearly 1 when the soil was moist and the cover scanty to a very small figure when the soil was dry and with maximum canopy shading. Water‐use efficiency was greatly increased by use of the plastic cover because loss of water by evaporation was eliminated. The above average temperatures and increase of apparent condensation on the plastic‐covered lysimeter are discussed. Stopping evaporation while permitting normal infiltration amounts resulted in increased percolation of 2.19 inches during the corn season. Residual effect on percolation noted during the normal recharge season that followed was only 0.33 inch.