Evapotranspiration and crop coefficient of Kaki tomato cultivated in greenhouse

Abstract

The aerodynamic parameters of a crop cultivated in greenhouse can be considered dependent upon the level of global radiation, air temperature and relative humidity, based on exponential laws. Consequently, this work intends to estimate the evapotranspiration and the crop coefficient of Kaki tomato in greenhouse, under drip irrigation, using the Penman-Monteith model. The aerodynamic parameters were measured with sensors connected to the automatic station installed inside the greenhouse. The ETc was determined experimentally through drainage lysimeters and the soil water content was measured through sensors installed at a depth of 20 cm. The performance of the Penman-Monteith model was compared to decennial values of the water balance in the lysimeters, while the reference evapotranspiration was calculated with external data and used for calculation of crop Kc. The results indicated that the Penman-Monteith model underestimates the evapotranspiration values found by the water balance in the lysimeters.

water management; lisimeter; Penman-Monteith