Articles
Remote sensing-based evapotranspiration of apricot trees under irrigation in South Africa
Article number
1450_12
Pages
89 – 94
Language
English
Abstract
Evapotranspiration (ET) mapping through remote sensing offers valuable insights into the water cycle, agricultural management, and ecosystem dynamics.
Several methods utilise satellite and airborne sensors to estimate ET at various spatial and temporal scales.
One widely employed approach involves utilising thermal infrared (TIR) sensors to capture surface temperatures, as ET is closely linked to surface energy balance.
The surface energy balance system (SEBS) and the two-source energy balance (TSEB) models are examples of algorithms that integrate TIR data with meteorological parameters to estimate ET. In this analysis, we used WaPOR level 2 data at 100 m spatial resolution and at every 10 days interval from September 1 to December 31, 2023. The remotely sensed Et was validated based on the ET determined by the Eddy covariance system installed in the orchard.
The analysis was conducted to see the temporal variation of ET and production over the Baden apricot orchard selected for the study with cultivar ‘Palsteyn’/‘Imperial’. The total ETa for four months is estimated to be 319 mm.
Total transpiration and evaporation components in ETa are estimated to be 268 and 51 mm, respectively.
The highest ETa of 4.2 mm day‑1 is reported in the last decade of November 2023. The pattern of ETa shows the initial and growing stages of apricots as the season progresses.
The contribution of transpiration indicates increasing apricots with vigorous plant growth and high-water demand.
Several methods utilise satellite and airborne sensors to estimate ET at various spatial and temporal scales.
One widely employed approach involves utilising thermal infrared (TIR) sensors to capture surface temperatures, as ET is closely linked to surface energy balance.
The surface energy balance system (SEBS) and the two-source energy balance (TSEB) models are examples of algorithms that integrate TIR data with meteorological parameters to estimate ET. In this analysis, we used WaPOR level 2 data at 100 m spatial resolution and at every 10 days interval from September 1 to December 31, 2023. The remotely sensed Et was validated based on the ET determined by the Eddy covariance system installed in the orchard.
The analysis was conducted to see the temporal variation of ET and production over the Baden apricot orchard selected for the study with cultivar ‘Palsteyn’/‘Imperial’. The total ETa for four months is estimated to be 319 mm.
Total transpiration and evaporation components in ETa are estimated to be 268 and 51 mm, respectively.
The highest ETa of 4.2 mm day‑1 is reported in the last decade of November 2023. The pattern of ETa shows the initial and growing stages of apricots as the season progresses.
The contribution of transpiration indicates increasing apricots with vigorous plant growth and high-water demand.
Publication
Authors
P.C. Tharaga, L. Banda, J.C. Dlamini, T.L. Dirwai, T.M. Mobe, Z. Ntshidi, S. Pareeth
Keywords
apricots, evapotranspiration, irrigation, remote sensing, SEBAL
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