Evapotranspiration for Sustainable Land Management Systems

Evapotranspiration (ET) is a fundamental process within the water cycle and the agricultural water balance, optimizing resource allocation, maintaining soil health, and enhancing ecosystem resilience to climate change. Because ET represents a primary consumptive use of irrigation on agricultural lands, enhancing water-use efficiency and sustainable water management requires accurate estimation of evapotranspiration to support long-term sustainability and productivity. This study offers an effective means to visualize spatial and temporal patterns of reference evapotranspiration (ETo) across various vegetation management practices. This study examined the impacts of agroforestry buffers (ABs), grass buffers (GBs), biofuel crops in an agroforestry watershed (BCa), and biofuel crops in a grass buffer watershed (BCg) on ETo, compared to a corn ( Zea mays L.)–soybean ( Glycine max L.) rotation (RC) for claypan soil in Northern Missouri, USA. The experimental watersheds were located at the Greenley Memorial Research Center, Missouri, USA. Campbell Scientific sensors and Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR) smart sensors were installed to measure net radiation, anemometers, humidity, and air temperature. All instruments were mounted on masts at a height of 2 m above ground level in crop, tree, grass, and biofuel areas. Measured meteorological data were recorded hourly from April to October during 2017 and 2018. Daily ETo predictions were calculated using the Penman–Monteith model. These ETo predictions were displayed across the landscape using Python-based GIS for selected dates (each Saturday) for the watersheds. The methodology was implemented using the software programs of Python 2.7.10 and ArcGIS 10.3.1. The results indicated that ETo increased by 11%, 17%, 18%, and 25% in 2017, and by 7%, 9%, 14%, and 20% in 2018 for AB, BCa, BCg, and GB, respectively, compared to RC management. This process may improve soil water recharge in perennial management systems. Accurate estimation of ET in agricultural regions is critical for understanding water balance, hydrological and ecosystem processes, and climate variability. Given that agriculture constitutes the majority of global water consumption, precise ET estimation is particularly significant for sustainable water management, especially in regions experiencing water scarcity. These outcomes may support effective planning and management of agricultural water resources by enabling optimized irrigation and agricultural production.