Evapotranspiration based irrigation scheduling for a tropical fruit orchard in south Florida
ABSTRACT: Abstract of Thesis Presented to the Graduate School of the University of Florida in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Engineering EVAPOTRANSPIRATION BASED IRRIGATION SCHEDULING FOR A TROPICAL FRUIT ORCHARD IN SOUTH FLORIDA By Isaya Kisekka August 2009 Chair: Kati W. Migliaccio Cochair: Michael D. Dukes Major: Agricultural and Biological Engineering The goal of this research was to evaluate the suitability of evapotranspiration (ET)-based irrigation scheduling technologies for agricultural applications, specifically the ability of the technologies to: apply the appropriate amount of water at the appropriate time, accurately estimate reference ET (ET₀) and maintain root zone soil water content in an optimum range (close to field capacity). To address this challenge, two studies were conducted with the following overall objectives: 1) evaluate ET-based irrigation water management in a tropical fruit orchard in south Florida and 2) compare various ET₀ estimation equations and spatial interpolation techniques in south Florida. The study was conducted at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Tropical Research and Education Center (UF/IFAS TREC) in Homestead, FL. The experiment was conducted in an orchard of Arkin carambola. The experiment consisted of four treatments replicated three times and arranged in a completely randomized design (CRD). T₁ was based on a real-time ET irrigation schedule, T₂ was based on historical ET, T₃ was a standard irrigation practice (76 mm/wk) and T₄ was a non irrigated treatment. Irrigation was measured using water meters, soil water tension was measured using 15 cm Irrometer tensiometers, stem
Thesis, Dissertation, English, 2009
University of Florida, [Gainesville, Fla.], 2009