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Impact of groundwater depth on crop coefficient: An improved evapotranspiration model

Author

Listed:
  • Ju, Qin
  • Ding, Yutong
  • Shen, Tongqing
  • Cai, Huiyi
  • Wang, Yining
  • Jin, Junliang
  • Gao, Huibin
  • Xu, Shiqin
  • Liu, Yanli
  • Wang, Guoqing

Abstract

Understanding the impact of groundwater depth on actual crop evapotranspiration (ETc act) is essential for agricultural water management in shallow water table regions. A four-year field experiment (2019–2023) was conducted at the Wudaogou Hydrological Experimental Station to monitor the ETc act of winter wheat under different groundwater depth conditions, while simultaneously recording key meteorological variables, including air temperature, precipitation, wind speed, net radiation, relative humidity, sunshine duration, soil heat flux, and soil temperature. Based on the observed data, we analyzed the influence of groundwater depth on winter wheat ETc act and actual crop coefficients (Kc act). The results revealed that both ETc act and Kc act exhibited a clear exponential relationship with groundwater depth, showing a significant decreasing trend as the depth increased. Building upon this finding, we developed a Groundwater–Meteorology-Based Actual Crop Evapotranspiration Model (GW–M model) that incorporates both groundwater depth and meteorological factors. In the model, these variables affect ETc act by influencing the Kc act. The selection of meteorological factors was guided by the top three variables identified through geographical detector analysis. The model effectively reproduced the ETc act process of winter wheat in shallow groundwater areas. Comparative analysis with other evapotranspiration models demonstrated that the proposed model achieved higher accuracy. This study underscores the pivotal role of groundwater depth in regulating ETc act in shallow water table areas. The proposed modeling approach offers a flexible and scalable framework for simulating ETc act under variable groundwater conditions, thereby providing theoretical support for regional-scale agricultural water management.

Suggested Citation

  • Ju, Qin & Ding, Yutong & Shen, Tongqing & Cai, Huiyi & Wang, Yining & Jin, Junliang & Gao, Huibin & Xu, Shiqin & Liu, Yanli & Wang, Guoqing, 2026. "Impact of groundwater depth on crop coefficient: An improved evapotranspiration model," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 323(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:agiwat:v:323:y:2026:i:c:s0378377425007747
    DOI: 10.1016/j.agwat.2025.110060
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