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The magnitude and duration of corn transpiration reduction during center-pivot sprinkler irrigation was analyzed on a commercial plot. The irrigation event was defined as the period during which the pivot arm was passing over the transect AC and water droplets were moistening the plants (moist treatment). Corn transpiration rates were measured at three spots of that transect and simultaneously at another spot (dry treatment) located approximately 270 m east from the transect AC. Corn transpiration rates for the moist treatment location were reduced by 30-36% compared to the dry treatment location during the irrigation event. After irrigation, the transpiration reduction lasted for 1.8-2.6 h, and ranged from 22-29%. The gross wind drift and evaporation losses ranged from 10-13% of the applied water, whereas the net interception losses were 2% of the applied water. Considering the observed corn transpiration reduction during and after the irrigation, the net sprinkler evaporation losses ranged from 11-13% of the applied water, with no relevant differences along the pivot arm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A comparison between experimental and simulated data, considering the Priestley–Taylor (PT) and Penman–Monteith (PM) reference-evapotranspiration (ET0) approaches was carried out. Experimental data, obtained from an irrigation assessment, conducted during the 1995 and 1996 maize growth-seasons at Zaragoza, Spain, was compared to the mechanistic-model SWAP simulation-results, considering each of the ET0 calculation approaches in the model input. Soil hydraulic properties, meteorological data, seeding and harvest dates, crop water management and other experimental data were used as SWAP input. As corresponding to the windy and dry conditions found in many Mediterranean landplanes, PT-ET0 values were significantly lower than PM-ET0 calculations. Furthermore, simulated actual evapotranspirations considering the PT approach (PT-ETc) were lower than those found in the simulations that consider the PM approach (PM-ETc). Correspondingly, simulated drainage flux and soil water contents were higher when the PT-ET0 approach was used. The correlation coefficients between simulated and measured actual maize evapotranspirations and soil water contents were statistically significant, but the same for both ET0 calculation approaches. Mean and median differences between actual and simulated maize water-use were not statistically different from zero for both considered ET0 calculation approaches. Experimental data variability was significantly higher than simulated variability. The comparisons among the evaluated irrigation options, made with the experimental water-use data, lead almost to the same conclusions than those achieved from the simulated maize water-use. Considering PM-ETc rather than PT-ETc yields no statistical difference in the modeling-based conclusions. According to the obtained results, the PT approach could be used under Mediterranean conditions for comparative assessments aimed to support irrigation decision-making. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]