Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Evaluating and Calibrating Reference Evapotranspiration Models Using Water Balance under Hyper-Arid Environment

  • Published:
Water Resources Management Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This research investigates five reference evapotranspiration models (one combined model, one temperature-based model, and three radiation-based models) under hyper-arid environmental conditions at the operational field level. These models were evaluated and calibrated using the weekly water balance of alfalfa by EnviroSCAN to calculate crop evapotranspiration (ETc). Calibration models were evaluated and validated using wheat and potatoes, respectively, on the basis of weekly water balance. Based on the results and discussion, the FAO-56 Penman-Monteith model proved to be superior in estimating ETc with a slight underestimation of 2 %. Meanwhile, the Hargreaves-Samani (HS) model (temperature-based) underestimated ETc by 20 % and the Priestley-Taylor (PT) and Makkink (MK) models (radiation-based) had similar performances underestimating by up to 35 % of the measured ETc. The Turc (TR) model had the lowest performance compared with other models, demonstrating values underestimated by up to 60 % of the measured ETc. Local calibration based on alfalfa evapotranspiration measurements was used to rectify these underestimations. The surprisingly good performance of the calibrated simple HS model, with a new coefficient 0.0029, demonstrated its favorable potential to improve irrigation scheduling. The MK and PT models were in third and fourth rank, respectively, reflecting minor differences between one another. The new coefficients obtained for the MK and PT models were 1.99 and 0.963, respectively. One important observation was that the calibrated TR model performed poorly, with an increase in its coefficient from 0.013 to 0.034 to account for hyper-arid environmental conditions; moreover, it required additional seasonal calibration to adequately improve its performance.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Adamowski JF (2008) Peak daily water demand forecast modeling using artificial neural networks. J Water Resour Plan Manag 134(2):119–128

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Alazba AA, Al-Ghobari HM, Mohammad FS, Alomran AM (2003) Measured and estimated crop ET and Kc for wheat and barley in Central Saudi Arabia. Alex J Agric Res 48(2):1–9

    Google Scholar 

  • Al-Ghobari HM (2000) Estimation of reference evapotranspiration for southern region of Saudi Arabia. Irrig Sci 19(2):81–86

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Allen RG (2003) REF-ET User’s guide. University of Idaho Kimberly Research Stations, Kimberly, Idaho

    Google Scholar 

  • Allen RG, Pereira LS, Raes D, Smith M (1998) Crop evapotranspiration: guidelines for computing crop water requirements. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome

    Google Scholar 

  • Al-Omran AM, Mohammad FS, Al-Ghobari HM, Alazba AA (2004) Determination of evapotranspiration of tomato and squash using lysimeter in Central Saudi Arabia. Int Agric Eng J 13(1&2):27–36

    Google Scholar 

  • Al-Taher AT, Ahmed A (1992) Estimation of potential evapotranspiration in Al-Hassa oasis, Saudi Arabia. GeoJournal 26(3):371–379

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Amatya DM, Skaggs RW, Gregory JD (1995) Comparison of methods for estimating REF-ET. J Irrig Drain Eng 121(6):427–435

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bautista F, Bautista D, Delgdao-Carranza C (2009) Calibration of the equation of Hargreaves and Thornthwaite to estimate the potential evapotranspiration in semi-arid and subhumid tropical climates for regional applications. Atmosfera 22(4):331–348

  • Benli B, Kodal S, Ilbeyi A, Ustun H (2006) Determination of evapotranspiration and basal crop coefficient of alfalfa with a weighing lysimeter. Agric Water Manag 81(3):358–370

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Benli B, Bruggeman A, Oweis T, Ustun H (2010) Performance of Penman-Monteith FAO56 in a semiarid highland environment. J Irrig Drain Eng 136(11):757–765

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Berengena J, Gavilan P (2005) Reference evapotranspiration estimation in a highly advective semiarid environment. J Irrig Drain Eng 131(2):147–163

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Blaney HF, Criddle WD (1962) Determining consumptive use and irrigation water requirements. U. S. Dept. Agr. Agric Res Serv Tech Bull 1275:59

    Google Scholar 

  • Buss P (1993) The use of capacitance based measurements of real time soil water profile dynamic for irrigation scheduling. Paper presented at the Irrigation 93 Proceeding of the National Conferences of the Irrigation Association of Australia

  • Castaneda L, Rao P (2005) Comparison of methods for estimating reference evapotranspiration in Southern California. J Environ Hydrol 13:1–10

  • Chanasyk DS, Mapfumo E, Willms W (2003) Quantification and simulation of surface runoff from fescue grassland watersheds. Agric Water Manag 59(2):137–153

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Debnath S, Adamala S, Raghuwanshi NS (2015) Sensitivity analysis of FAO-56 Penman Monteith method for different agro-ecological regions of India. Environ Process 2:689–704

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dehghani Sanij H, Yamamoto T, Rasiah V (2004) Assessment of evapotranspiration estimation models for use in semi-arid environments. Agric Water Manag 64(2):91–106

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Droogers P, Allen RG (2002) Estimating reference evapotranspiration under inaccurate data conditions. Irrig Drain Syst 16(1):33–45

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • ElNesr M, Alazba AA (2010) Simple statistical equivalents of Penman–Monteith formula’s parameters in the absence of non-basic climatic factors. Arab J Geosci:1–11

  • ElNesr MN, Alazba AA, Amin MT (2011) Modified Hargreaves’ method as an alternative to the Penman-Monteith method in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Aust J Basic Appl Sci 5(6):1058–1069

    Google Scholar 

  • Farahani HJ, Howell TA, Shuttleworth WJ, Bausch WC (2007) Evapotranspiration: progress in measurement and modeling in agriculture. Trans ASAE 50(5):1627–1638

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gavilán P, Lorite IJ, Tornero S, Berengena J (2006) Regional calibration of Hargreaves equation for estimating reference ET in a semiarid environment. Agric Water Manag 81(3):257–281

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hansen V (1984) Spectral distribution of solar radiation on clear days: a comparison between measurements and model estimates. Clim Appl Meteor 23:772–780

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hargreaves GH, Allen RG (2003) History and evaluation of Hargreaves evapotranspiration equation. J Irrig Drain Eng 129(1):53–63

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hargreaves GH, Samani ZA (1985) Reference crop evapotranspiration from temperature. Appl Eng Agric 1(2):96–99

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Igbadun H, Mahoo H, Tarimo A, Salim B (2006) Performance of two temperature-based reference evapotranspiration models in the Mkoji sub-catchment in Tanzania. Agricultural Engineering International: the CIGR Ejournal, Manuscript LW 05 008. Vol. 8

  • Irmak S, Allen RG, Whitty EB (2003) Daily grass and alfalfa-reference evapotranspiration estimates and alfalfa-to-grass evapotranspiration ratios in Florida. J Irrig Drain Eng 129(5):360–370

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ismail SM (1993) Reference evapotranspiration study in Al-Qassim region. J Agric Sci 5(2):141–151

    Google Scholar 

  • Jensen ME (1966) Empirical methods of estimating or predicting evapotranspiration using radiation. Paper presented at the Conference on Evapotranspiration and its Role in Water Resources Management, American Society of Agricultural Engineers

    Google Scholar 

  • Jensen ME, Burman RD, Allen RG (1990) American society of civil engineers. Committee on irrigation water requirements. Evapotranspiration and irrigation water requirements: a manual. The Society, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Licciardello F, Zema DA, Zimbone SM, Bingner RL (2007) Runoff and soil erosion evaluation by the AnnAGNPS model in a small Mediterranean watershed. Trans ASAE 50(5):1585–1585

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Loague K, Green RE (1991) Statistical and graphical methods for evaluating solute transport models: overview and application. Journal of Contaminant Hydrology JCOHE6, Vol. 7, No. 1/2, p 51–73, January 1991. 7 fig, 5 tab, 20 ref

  • López-Urrea R, Olalla FMS, Fabeiro C, Moratalla A (2006) An evaluation of two hourly reference evapotranspiration equations for semiarid conditions. Agric Water Manag 86(3):277–282

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Makkink GF (1957) Testing the Penman formula by means of lysimeters. J Institut Water Eng 11(3):277–288

    Google Scholar 

  • Mohammad FS (1997) Calibration of reference evapotranspiration equations for alfalfa under arid climatic conditions. J King Saud Univ Agric Sci 9(1):39–56

    Google Scholar 

  • Mustafa MA, Akabawi KA, Zoghet MF (1989) Estimation of reference crop evapotranspiration for the life zones of Saudi Arabia. J Arid Environ 17(3):293–300

    Google Scholar 

  • Nandagiri L, Kovoor GM (2006) Performance evaluation of reference evapotranspiration equations across a range of Indian climates. J Irrig Drain Eng 132(3):238–249

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Penman HL (1948) Natural evaporation from open water, bare soil and grass. Proc R Soc Lond A Math Phys Sci 193(1032):120–145

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Priestley CHB, Taylor RJ (1972) On the assessment of surface heat flux and evaporation using large-scale parameters. Mon Weather Rev 100(2):81–92

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Razzaghi F, Sepaskhah AR (2011) Calibration and validation of four common ETo estimation equations by lysimeter data in a semi-arid environment. Arch Agron Soil Sci 58(3):303–319

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Saeed M (1988) Simple equations for estimating reference evapotranspiration in an arid climate, Saudi Arabia. Arab Gulf J Sci Res 6(3):325–338

    Google Scholar 

  • Stannard DI (1993) Comparison of Penman-Monteith, Shuttleworth-Wallace, and modified Priestley-Taylor evapotranspiration models for wildland vegetation in semiarid rangeland. Water Resour Manag 29(5):1379–1392

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Suleiman AA, Hoogenboom G (2007) Comparison of Priestley-Taylor and FAO-56 Penman-Monteith for daily reference evapotranspiration estimation in Georgia. J Irrig Drain Eng 133(2):175–182

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tabari H (2010) Evaluation of reference crop evapotranspiration equations in various climates. Water Resour Manag 24(10):2311–2337

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tabari H, Talaee PH (2011) Local calibration of the Hargreaves and Priestley-Taylor equations for estimating reference evapotranspiration in arid and cold climates of Iran based on the Penman-Monteith model. J Hydrol Eng 16(10):837–845

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Temesgen B, Allen RG, Jensen DT (1999) Adjusting temperature parameters to reflect well-watered conditions. J Irrig Drain Eng 125(1):26–33

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thornthwaite CW (1948) An approach toward a rational classification of climate. Geogr Rev 38(5):55–94

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Trajković S, Gocić M (2010) Comparison of some empirical equations for estimating daily reference evapotranspiration. Arch Civ Eng 8(2):163–168

    Google Scholar 

  • Turc L (1961) Estimation of irrigation water requirements, potential evapotranspiration: a simple climatic formula evolved up to date. J Ann Agron 12:13–14

    Google Scholar 

  • Xu CY, Chen D (2005) Comparison of seven models for estimation of evapotranspiration and groundwater recharge using lysimeter measurement data in Germany. Hydrol Process 19:3717–3734

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xu CY, Singh VP (2002) Cross comparison of empirical equations for calculating potential evapotranspiration with data from Switzerland. Water Resour Manag 16(3):197–219

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yoder RE, Odhiambo LO, Wright WC (2005) Evaluation of methods for estimating daily reference crop evapotranspiration at a site in the humid Southeast United States. Appl Eng Agric 21(2):197–202

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

With sincere respect and gratitude, we express deep thanks to the Deanship of Scientific Research, King Saud University and Agriculture Research Center, College of Food and Agriculture Sciences, for financial support, sponsorship and encouragement.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Agricultural Engineering Department, College of Food and Agriculture Sciences, King Saud University, PO Box 2460, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia

    Mohamed A. Mattar & A. A. Alazba

  2. School of Engineering, University of Guelph, N1G 2W1, Guelph, ON, Canada

    Bander Alblewi & Bahram Gharabaghi

  3. Alamoudi Water Chair, King Saud University, PO Box 2460, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia

    A. A. Alazba & Mohamed A. Yassin

  4. Agricultural Research Center, Agricultural Engineering Research Institute (AEnRI), PO Box 256, Giza, Egypt

    Mohamed A. Mattar

Authors
  1. Mohamed A. Mattar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. A. A. Alazba
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Bander Alblewi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Bahram Gharabaghi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Mohamed A. Yassin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mohamed A. Mattar.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Mattar, M.A., Alazba, A.A., Alblewi, B. et al. Evaluating and Calibrating Reference Evapotranspiration Models Using Water Balance under Hyper-Arid Environment. Water Resour Manage 30, 3745–3767 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11269-016-1382-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11269-016-1382-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation