Evapotranspiration, Irrigation, Dew/frost - Water Balance Data for The Bushland, Texas Maize for Grain Datasets

This dataset contains water balance data for each growing season (year) when maize (Zea mays, L., also known as corn in the United States) was grown for grain at the USDA-ARS Conservation and Production Laboratory (CPRL), Soil and Water Management Research Unit (SWMRU) research weather station, Bushland, Texas (Lat. 35.186714°, Long. -102.094189°, elevation 1170 m above MSL). Maize was grown for grain on two large, precision weighing lysimeters, each in the center of a 4.44 ha square field. Irrigation was by linear move sprinkler system in 1989, 1990, and 1994. In 2013, 2016, and 2018, maize was grown on four lysimeters; two lysimeters and their respective fields were irrigated using subsurface drip irrigation (SDI), and two lysimeters and their respective fields were irrigated by a linear move sprinkler system. Irrigations were managed to replenish soil water used by the crop on a weekly or more frequent basis as determined by soil profile water content readings made with a neutron probe to 2.4-m depth in the field. The weighing lysimeters were used to measure relative soil water storage to 0.05 mm accuracy at 5-minute intervals, and the 5-minute change in soil water storage was used along with precipitation and irrigation amounts to calculate crop evapotranspiration (ET), which is reported at 15-minute intervals. Because the large (3 m by 3 m surface area) weighing lysimeters are better rain gages than are tipping bucket gages, the 15-minute precipitation data are derived for each lysimeter from changes in lysimeter mass. The land slope is <1% and flat.
The water balance data consist of 15-minute and daily amounts of evapotranspiration (ET), dew/frost fall, precipitation (rain/snow), irrigation, scale counterweight adjustment, and emptying of drainage tanks, all in mm. The values are the result of a rigorous quality control process involving algorithms for detecting dew/frost accumulations, and precipitation (rain and snow). Changes in lysimeter mass due to emptying of drainage tanks, counterweight adjustment, maintenance activity, and harvest are accounted for such that ET values are minimally affected. The ET data should be considered to be the best values offered in these datasets. Even though ET data are also presented in the "lysimeter" datasets, the values herein are the result of a more rigorous quality control process. Dew and frost accumulation varies from year to year and seasonally within a year, and it is affected by lysimeter surface condition [bare soil, tillage condition, residue amount and orientation (flat or standing), etc.]. Particularly during winter and depending on humidity and cloud cover, dew and frost accumulation sometimes accounts for an appreciable percentage of total daily ET.
These datasets originate from research aimed at determining crop water use (ET), crop coefficients for use in ET-based irrigation scheduling based on a reference ET, crop growth, yield, harvest index, and crop water productivity as affected by irrigation method, timing, amount (full or some degree of deficit), agronomic practices, cultivar, and weather. Prior publications have focused on maize ET, crop coefficients, and crop water productivity. Crop coefficients have been used by ET networks. The data have utility for testing simulation models of crop ET, growth, and yield and have been used by the Agricultural Model Intercomparison and Improvement Project (AgMIP), by OPENET, and by many others for testing, and calibrating models of ET that use satellite and/or weather data.

Resources in this dataset:

• Resource Title: 1989 Bushland, TX. East Maize Evapotranspiration, Irrigation, and Water Balance Data.File Name: 1989_Maize_water_balance.xlsxResource Description: The data consist of 15-minute and daily amounts of evapotranspiration (ET), dew/frost accumulation, precipitation (rain/snow), irrigation, scale counterweight adjustment, and emptying of drainage tanks, all in mm. The values are the result of a rigorous quality control process involving algorithms for detecting dew/frost accumulations, and precipitation (rain and snow). Changes in lysimeter mass due to precipitation, irrigation, frost and dew accumulation, emptying of drainage tanks, counterweight adjustment, maintenance activity, and harvest are accounted for such that ET values are minimally affected.
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• Resource Title: 1990 Bushland, TX. East Maize Evapotranspiration, Irrigation, and Water Balance Data.File Name: 1990_Maize_water_balance.xlsxResource Description: The data consist of 15-minute and daily amounts of evapotranspiration (ET), dew/frost accumulation, precipitation (rain/snow), irrigation, scale counterweight adjustment, and emptying of drainage tanks, all in mm. The values are the result of a rigorous quality control process involving algorithms for detecting dew/frost accumulations, and precipitation (rain and snow). Changes in lysimeter mass due to precipitation, irrigation, frost and dew accumulation, emptying of drainage tanks, counterweight adjustment, maintenance activity, and harvest are accounted for such that ET values are minimally affected.
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• Resource Title: 1994 Bushland, TX. East Maize Evapotranspiration, Irrigation, and Water Balance Data.File Name: 1994_Maize_water_balance.xlsxResource Description: The data consist of 15-minute and daily amounts of evapotranspiration (ET), dew/frost accumulation, precipitation (rain/snow), irrigation, scale counterweight adjustment, and emptying of drainage tanks, all in mm. The values are the result of a rigorous quality control process involving algorithms for detecting dew/frost accumulations, and precipitation (rain and snow). Changes in lysimeter mass due to precipitation, irrigation, frost and dew accumulation, emptying of drainage tanks, counterweight adjustment, maintenance activity, and harvest are accounted for such that ET values are minimally affected.
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• Resource Title: 2013 Bushland, TX. East Maize Evapotranspiration, Irrigation, and Water Balance Data.File Name: 2013_Maize_water_balance.xlsxResource Description: The data consist of 15-minute and daily amounts of evapotranspiration (ET), dew/frost accumulation, precipitation (rain/snow), irrigation, scale counterweight adjustment, and emptying of drainage tanks, all in mm. The values are the result of a rigorous quality control process involving algorithms for detecting dew/frost accumulations, and precipitation (rain and snow). Changes in lysimeter mass due to precipitation, irrigation, frost and dew accumulation, emptying of drainage tanks, counterweight adjustment, maintenance activity, and harvest are accounted for such that ET values are minimally affected.
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• Resource Title: 2016 Bushland, TX. East Maize Evapotranspiration, Irrigation, and Water Balance Data.File Name: 2016_Maize_water_balance.xlsxResource Description: The data consist of 15-minute and daily amounts of evapotranspiration (ET), dew/frost accumulation, precipitation (rain/snow), irrigation, scale counterweight adjustment, and emptying of drainage tanks, all in mm. The values are the result of a rigorous quality control process involving algorithms for detecting dew/frost accumulations, and precipitation (rain and snow). Changes in lysimeter mass due to precipitation, irrigation, frost and dew accumulation, emptying of drainage tanks, counterweight adjustment, maintenance activity, and harvest are accounted for such that ET values are minimally affected.
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• Resource Title: 2018 Bushland, TX. East Maize Evapotranspiration, Irrigation, and Water Balance Data.File Name: 2018_Maize_water_balance.xlsxResource Description: The data consist of 15-minute and daily amounts of evapotranspiration (ET), dew/frost accumulation, precipitation (rain/snow), irrigation, scale counterweight adjustment, and emptying of drainage tanks, all in mm. The values are the result of a rigorous quality control process involving algorithms for detecting dew/frost accumulations, and precipitation (rain and snow). Changes in lysimeter mass due to precipitation, irrigation, frost and dew accumulation, emptying of drainage tanks, counterweight adjustment, maintenance activity, and harvest are accounted for such that ET values are minimally affected.