METHODS TO ESTIMATE LETTUCE EVAPOTRANSPIRATION IN GREENHOUSE CONDITIONS IN THE CENTRAL ZONE OF CHILE

Manuel Casanova P.¹*, Ingmar Messing², Abraham Joel², and Alberto Cañete M.¹

ABSTRACT

This study evaluates five methods to estimate crop evapotranspiration in greenhouse conditions. It compares their performance in relation to the evapotranspiration directly determined from water balance measurements (ET_lys) in an irrigated lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) crop during 9 weeks. Daily values of the reference evapotranspiration (ETo) from Class A pan (CAP), Piche atmometers (ATM), Andersson evaporimeters (ANE), FAO-Radiation (FRE) and FAO-Penman-Monteith (PME) equations were compared. The methods showed similar temporal variations but at different ranges as follows: ANE < CAP < FRE < PME < ATM. Furthemore, ETo had a clear correlation with solar radiation. Crop coefficients (Kc = ET_lys/ETo) varied somewhat amongst the methods, but trends were identified for two periods: in the first week, the overall mean Kc was 0.3 (± 0.1) and in weeks 2 to 9 on average 0.6 (± 0.3). The greenhouse values of Kc were lower than those generally adopted for lettuce in field conditions. In terms of irrigation design, crop evapotranspiration can be estimated by the methods in this study, on the condition that the appropriate crop coefficients are applied. The fact that ANE showed values closest to those of ET_lys, along with cost and management convenience, makes it an advantageous alternative as compared to the other methods.

Key words: evapotranspiration, greenhouse, lettuce, lysimeter, Lactuca sativa.