Title: Determination of evapotranspiration for cotton in Alabama by the Penman method

Authors: Mahbub Hasan; Aschalew Kassu; Srinivasa Rao Mentreddy

Addresses: Department of Mechanical, Civil Engineering and Construction Management, College of Engineering, Technology and Physical Sciences, Alabama A&M University, Normal, AL 35762, USA ' Department of Mechanical, Civil Engineering and Construction Management, College of Engineering, Technology and Physical Sciences, Alabama A&M University, Normal, AL 35762, USA ' Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, College of Agricultural, Life and Natural Sciences, Alabama A&M University, Normal, AL 35762, USA

Abstract: Cotton irrigation is increasingly becoming a challenge because of climate change effects such as the variations in rainfall, temperature, and cloudiness during the growing season. Cotton crop characteristics, as well as the prevailing environmental conditions, are critical in determining cotton water use. An efficient method of scheduling irrigation to cotton crop is imperative for optimising time and amount of water to apply for achieving cotton yield potential. In this article, a reliable approach to determine crop water requirement for cotton cultivation is proposed using the Penman method for Gadsden, Alabama, located in the southern part of the USA.

Keywords: evapotranspiration; ETc; Penman equation; reference crop coefficient; Kc; net radiation; Rn; energy balance.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHST.2018.090896

International Journal of Hydrology Science and Technology, 2018 Vol.8 No.2, pp.163 - 174

Received: 13 Jan 2017
Accepted: 25 Mar 2017

Published online: 03 Apr 2018 *

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