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Irrigation Scheduling Using Infrared Thermometers to Measure Canopy Temperature on Cotton and Soybean

Published by the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, St. Joseph, Michigan www.asabe.org

Citation:  Paper number  032143,  2003 ASAE Annual Meeting . (doi: 10.13031/2013.14015) @2003
Authors:   Daniel L. Bockhold, Allen L. Thompson, Kenneth A. Sudduth, Joseph C. Henggeler
Keywords:   Irrigation water use efficiency, vapor pressure deficit

The use of infrared thermometers to measure canopy temperatures for irrigation scheduling purposes has been successfully applied in arid environments, but has had complications in humid areas where the vapor pressure deficit is low and intermittent cloud cover occurs. In this study, four methods of irrigation scheduling were examined. These included: 1) well-watered; 2) dryland; 3) 50% of the amount applied to the well-watered treatment; and 4) irrigation based on cropcanopy temperatures. This last method compared the canopy temperature with a predicted temperature calculated from weather data collected at the site. Irrigation was triggered when the canopy temperature was above the predicted temperature for more than three consecutive hours for two consecutive days. The model under-predicted canopy temperatures in some conditions, but overall results indicate the potential for equal or higher yields with less water using this irrigation scheduling method.

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