Estimated Plant Water Use and Crop Coefficients for Drip-Irrigated Hybrid Polars
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AN ABSTRACT OF THE THESIS OF David J. Gochis for the degree of Master of Science in Bioresource Engineering presented on January 23, 1998. Title: Estimated Plant Water Use and Crop Coefficients for Drip- Irrigated Hybrid Poplars. Redacted for Privacy Abstract approved: Richard H. Cuenca Estimations of plant water use can provide great assistance to growers, irrigators, engineers and water resource planners. This is especially true concerning the introduction of a new crop into irrigated agriculture. Growing hybrid poplar trees for wood chip stock and veneer production under agronomic practices is currently being explored as an alternative to traditional forestry practices. To this author's knowledge, no water use estimates or crop coefficients, the ratio of a specified crop evapotranspiration to a reference crop evapotranspiration, have been verified for hybrid poplars grown under drip irrigation. Four years of weekly, neutron probe measured, soil water data were analyzed to determine averaged daily, monthly and seasonal plant water use, or crop evapotranspiration . The plantation studied was located near Boardman, Oregon on the arid Columbia River Plateau of North-Central Oregon. Water was applied by periodic applications via drip irrigation. Irrigation application data, weekly recorded rainfall and changes in soil water content permitted the construction of a soil water balance model to calculate weekly hybrid poplar water use. Drainage was estimated by calculating a potential soil water flux from the lower soil profile. Sites with significant estimated potential drainage were removed from the analysis so that all sites used in the development coefficients were calculated using reference evapotranspiration estimates obtained from a nearby AGRIMET weather station. Mean crop coefficients were estimated using a 2nd order polynomial with 95% confidence intervals. Plant water use estimates and crop curves are presented for one, two and three year old hybrid poplars. Numerical simulation of irrigation practices was attempted using weekly soil water content and soil physical characterization data. Parameter optimization and numerical simulations were attempted using the HYDRUS-2D Soil Water and Solute Transport model. Parameter optimization and numerical simulations were largely unsuccessful due to lack of adequate soil physical and root zone system representation and dimensional differences between drip irrigation processes and the model design used in this study. C Copyright by David J. Gochis January 23, 1998 All Rights Reserved Estimated Plant Water Use and Crop Coefficients for Drip-Irrigated Hybrid Polars by David J. Gochis A THESIS submitted to Oregon State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science Presented January 23, 1998 Commencement June 1998 Master of Science thesis of David J. Gochis presented on January 23, 1998 APPROVED: Redacted for Privacy Major Professor, representing Bioresource Engineering Redacted for Privacy He f Department of Bioresource Engineering Redacted for Privacy Dean of Gra ate School I understand that my thesis will become part of the permanent collection of Oregon State University libraries. My signature below authorizes release of my thesis to any reader upon request. Redacted for Privacy David J. Gochis, Author ACKNOWLEDGMENT There are several people who I would like to extend my gratitude to in the completion of this thesis. First and foremost, I would like to thank my major professor, Dr. Richard H. Cuenca whose expertise in the field of irrigated agriculture and compassion for the finest post harvest products has provided me with a wealth of practical knowledge and a satiated palate. Second, I would like to thank the members of my advisory committee Dr. Larry Boersma and Dr. Marshall English for their critical review and insightful input. Other talented professors who greatly contributed to my program include Dr. John Selker, Dr. Micheal Unsowrth and Dr. John Buckhouse. My development at Oregon State University would not have been nearly as complete or enjoyable had they not been resident. I would like to thank Jim Wright of the USDA-ARS in Kimberly, Idaho for his review and suggestions. The sharing of his experience has been immeasurable. I also wish to acknowledge the Potlatch Corporation for their continued support of my education through sustained gifts to the Agricultural Research Foundation at Oregon State University. It has truly been a pleasure learning from and working with the farm managers at the Potlatch Hybrid Poplar Project in Boardman, Oregon. Special thanks goes out to Jake Eaton for his dedicated and courteous response to all of my research needs. I would like to extend my love and thanks to my family and friends who have supported me in a multitude of capacities. Whether it was love, a soap box, financial support or floor space I have never been in need or too far from home. To you all I am eternally grateful because... your thoughts may save you from the cold but only friends can save you from yourself And lastly, thanks to my dear sweet Alicia whom I had to leave in paradise over two years ago to proceed with my academics here. Your patience and companionship have been true gifts. I am so grateful for your life in mine. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page 1. Introduction 1 1.1 Purpose 1 1.2 Data 1 1.2.1 Potlatch Soil Water Monitoring Program 1 1.2.2 AGRIMET Reference Evapotranspiration 1 2. Literature Review 6 2.1 Overview of Poplars 6 2.1.1 Characterization of Poplars (Populus sp) 6 2.1.2 History and Uses 7 2.1.3 Ecology and Physiology of Poplars 10 2.1.4 Growing Poplars Under Irrigation 13 2.2 Methods of ET Estimation 17 2.2.1 Introduction 17 2.2.2 Foundations of Evaporation Estimation 18 2.2.2.1 Energy Balance Considerations 19 2.2.2.2 Aerodynamic Considerations 21 2.2.3 The Combination Method of Penman (1948) 23 2.2.4 Parameter Estimation in the Penman Combination Method 24 2.2.5 The Kimberely-Penman Method 29, 2.2.6 The Penman-Montieth Method 32 2.3 Methods of ET Measurement 35 2.3.1 Soil Water Balance 35 2.3.2 Lysimetric Measurement 37 TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued) Page 2.3.3 Meteorological Methods 40 2.3.3.1 Eddy Correlation 40 2.3.3.2 Bowen Ratio 42 2.3.3.3 Aerodynamic Method 43 2.4 Crop ET Estimates 44 2.4.1 Crop Curve Determination 45 2.4.2 Factors Affecting ETcmp 47 2.4.3 Basal Crop Coefficients 49 2.4.4 Mean Crop Coefficients 51 2.5 Numerical Simulation of Irrigation Practicies 52 2.5.1 Introduction 52 2.5.2 Governing Equation 53 2.5.3 Unsaturated Hydraulic Conductivity Estimation 54 2.5.4 Initial and Boundary Conditions 55 2.5.5 Root Water Uptake Function 56 2.5.6 Soil Water Retention Parameter Optimization 60 2.5.7 Tests for HYDRUS 2-D Validation 61 3 DATA AND METHODS 63 3.1 Site Description 63 3.2 Data Collection 65 3.2.1 Soil Water Content 65 3.2.2 Discussion of Error in Neutron Probe Measurements 66 3.2.2.1 Estimation of Error from a Spatial Standpoint 68 3.2.2.2 Conclusions of Error Discussion for Hybrid Poplar ET Estimates 73 3.2.3 Irrigation and Rainfall 75 3.3 Soil Water Balance Computation 75 3.4 Preliminary Estimation of Significant Drainage 78 TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued) Page 3.5 Removal of ET Estimates Biased By Precipitation 79 3.6 Crop Curve Determination 80 3.7 Soil Water Retention Parameter Estimation and Irrigation Simulation 81 4 ANALYSIS AND RESULTS 87 4.1 Drainage Criteria Results 87 4.2 Weekly and Average Daily ET REsults from 1994, 1995, 1996 and 1997 88 4.3 Generalized Crop Curves for 3 Years of Hybrid Poplar Trees 95 4.4 Monthly and Seasonal ET Results 102 4.5 Model Simulations and Optimization of Soil Water Retention Parameters 109 5 DISCUSSION 116 5.1 Application of Hybrid Poplar ET Estimates 116 5.2 Comparison of Hybrid Poplar ET Estimates 120 5.3 Sources of Error in Hybrid Poplar ET and Crop Curve Estimation 122 5.4 Discussion of Parameter Estimation Using HYDRUS-2D 126 6 Recommendations 128 BIBLIOGRAPHY 131 APPENDIX 140 LIST OF FIGURES Figure Page 2.1.1.1 Range of Native North American Poplars 9 2.4.1.1 Example of Crop Coefficient Curve 47 2.4.3.1 Generalized Crop Curve 50 2.5.5.1 Root Water Uptake Function 57 3.3 Figure 3.3 Phase 2 - Transect 2 Royal 22-Jul-97 77 3.7.1 Distribution of Root Water Uptake Intensity (3 Year old Tree) 85 4.2.1 Hybrid Poplar and Alfalfa Reference ET from Boardman, OR AGRIMET Station (HERO) April 1, 1994 October 13, 1994 90 4.2.2 Hybrid Poplar and Alfalfa Reference ET from Boardman, OR AGRIMET Station (HERO) April 3, 1995 October 15, 1995 91 4.2.3 Hybrid Poplar and Alfalfa Reference ET from Boardman, OR AGRIMET Station (HERO) April 3, 1996 October 15, 1994 92 4.2.4 Hybrid Poplar and Alfalfa Reference ET from Boardman, OR AGRIMET Station (HERO) April 1, 1997 October 13, 1997 93 4.3.1 Estimated Crop Curves for Three Years of Growth of Drip-Irrigated Hybrid Poplar Trees 97 4.3.2 Crop Curve Estimates for 1 Year Old Hybrid Poplars 98 4.3.3 Crop Curve Estimates for 2 Year Old Hybrid Poplars 99 4.3.4 Crop Curve Estimates for 3 Year Old Hybrid Poplars 100 LIST OF FIGURES (Continued) Figure Page 4.4.1 Composite weekly Reference ET from AGRIMET Station near Boardman, OR 1994-1997 104 4.4.2 Cumulative Refernce and Estimated Hybrid Poplar ET near Boardman, OR 106 4.5.1 Absolute Error in Volume 111 4.5.2 Mean Biased Error Surfaces 112 4.5.3 Mean Absolute Error Surfaces 113 5.3.1 Phase 1 Paired Site # 3 Tube 2 Ellum Soil 124 LIST OF TABLES Table Page 2.1.3.1 11 2.1.3.2 12 2.1.3.3 13 2.1.4.1 Transpiration of Irrigated and Un-irrigated Black Cottonwood (P.deltoides) Duirng Dry