Articles
Landscape water models for irrigation management of green spaces: integrating landscape crop coefficients, vegetation maps, and water use estimations from soil moisture
Article number
1429_30
Pages
251 – 258
Language
English
Abstract
Urban green spaces provide multiple environmental services that benefit human and environmental health, such as cooling, biodiversity net gain, and enhancing well-being, but they also require water to maintain their quality and functionality.
There is a lack of quantitative data on how different landscape types and irrigation practices affect water use and balance in urban settings.
Understanding these effects is crucial for designing and managing resilient urban landscapes.
In this study, we report the first year of development of water balance models for landscape types at RHS Wisley Gardens including a mixed perennial border, a woodland garden, and grass lawn.
The models estimate the water demand of each landscape type based on reference evapotranspiration (ETo) and landscape coefficients derived from plant species, planting density, microclimate, and seasonal growth.
We present initial validation of the models by comparing them with soil moisture and irrigation data, as well as expert horticultural assessment of landscape and plant quality.
We also compare the modelled water demand with the actual irrigation practices and water use at Wisley Gardens to quantify irrigation water use efficiency and to provide recommendations for improving irrigation management.
Furthermore, we discuss how the models can be applied to other urban green spaces to inform water management decisions and to assess the trade-offs between water use and environmental services.
There is a lack of quantitative data on how different landscape types and irrigation practices affect water use and balance in urban settings.
Understanding these effects is crucial for designing and managing resilient urban landscapes.
In this study, we report the first year of development of water balance models for landscape types at RHS Wisley Gardens including a mixed perennial border, a woodland garden, and grass lawn.
The models estimate the water demand of each landscape type based on reference evapotranspiration (ETo) and landscape coefficients derived from plant species, planting density, microclimate, and seasonal growth.
We present initial validation of the models by comparing them with soil moisture and irrigation data, as well as expert horticultural assessment of landscape and plant quality.
We also compare the modelled water demand with the actual irrigation practices and water use at Wisley Gardens to quantify irrigation water use efficiency and to provide recommendations for improving irrigation management.
Furthermore, we discuss how the models can be applied to other urban green spaces to inform water management decisions and to assess the trade-offs between water use and environmental services.
Authors
N.C. Cryer, M.B. Gush
Keywords
land use hydrology, water resource management, irrigation
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