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Partitioning of evapotranspiration using a stable isotope technique in an arid and high temperature agricultural production system

Author

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  • Lu, Xuefei
  • Liang, Liyin L.
  • Wang, Lixin
  • Jenerette, G. Darrel
  • McCabe, Matthew F.
  • Grantz, David A.

Abstract

Agricultural production in the hot and arid low desert systems of southern California relies heavily on irrigation. A better understanding of how much and to what extent irrigated water is transpired by crops relative to being lost through evaporation would improve the management of increasingly limited water resources. In this study, we examined the partitioning of evapotranspiration (ET) over a field of forage sorghum (Sorghum bicolor), which was under evaluation as a potential biofuel feedstock, based on isotope measurements of three irrigation cycles at the vegetative stage. This study employed customized transparent chambers coupled with a laser-based isotope analyzer to continuously measure near-surface variations in the stable isotopic composition of evaporation (E, δE), transpiration (T, δT) and ET (δET) to partition the total water flux. Due to the extreme heat and aridity, δE and δT were very similar, which makes this system highly unusual. Contrary to an expectation that the isotopic signatures of T, E, and ET would become increasingly enriched as soils became drier, our results showed an interesting pattern that δE, δT, and δET increased initially as soil water was depleted following irrigation, but decreased with further soil drying in mid to late irrigation cycle. These changes are likely caused by root water transport from deeper to shallower soil layers. Results indicate that about 46% of the irrigated water delivered to the crop was used as transpiration, with 54% lost as direct evaporation. This implies that 28 − 39% of the total source water was used by the crop, considering the typical 60 − 85% efficiency of flood irrigation. The stable isotope technique provided an effective means of determining surface partitioning of irrigation water in this unusually harsh production environment. The results suggest the potential to further minimize unproductive water losses in these production systems.

Suggested Citation

  • Lu, Xuefei & Liang, Liyin L. & Wang, Lixin & Jenerette, G. Darrel & McCabe, Matthew F. & Grantz, David A., 2017. "Partitioning of evapotranspiration using a stable isotope technique in an arid and high temperature agricultural production system," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 179(C), pages 103-109.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:agiwat:v:179:y:2017:i:c:p:103-109
    DOI: 10.1016/j.agwat.2016.08.012
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Kang, Shaozhong & Gu, Binjie & Du, Taisheng & Zhang, Jianhua, 2003. "Crop coefficient and ratio of transpiration to evapotranspiration of winter wheat and maize in a semi-humid region," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 59(3), pages 239-254, April.
    2. Ding, Risheng & Kang, Shaozhong & Zhang, Yanqun & Hao, Xinmei & Tong, Ling & Du, Taisheng, 2013. "Partitioning evapotranspiration into soil evaporation and transpiration using a modified dual crop coefficient model in irrigated maize field with ground-mulching," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 127(C), pages 85-96.
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    5. Alam, Muhammad Shahinur & Lamb, David W. & Rahman, Muhammad Moshiur, 2019. "In-situ partitioning of evaporation and transpiration components using a portable evapotranspiration dome—A case study in Tall Fescue (Festuca arundinacea)," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 213(C), pages 352-357.
    6. Zhu, Shihua & Fang, Xia & Cao, Liangzhong & Hang, Xin & Xie, Xiaoping & Sun, Liangxiao & Li, Yachun, 2023. "Multivariate drives and their interactive effects on the ratio of transpiration to evapotranspiration over Central Asia ecosystems," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 478(C).
    7. Lai, Jianbin & Liu, Tiegang & Luo, Yi, 2022. "Evapotranspiration partitioning for winter wheat with shallow groundwater in the lower reach of the Yellow River Basin," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 266(C).

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