Predicting Plant Water Use
Why do we need to model tree water use?
Tree water use is
modeled because it is cheaper to model than to measure. Long-term
measurements are expensive because they require equipment, labor, and
expertise. Although measuring one or a small number of trees is
feasible, it is nearly impossible to measure hundreds or thousands. It
quickly becomes obvious that the size of nurseries and landscapes
exceed the practicality of measurement. In addition, models permit us
to non-invasively estimate water use from remote locations. Overall,
they provide an extreme amount of savings in both cost and labor.
Both nursery and landscape plant irrigation needs can be predicted and managed with a process-based approach derived from plant need. There are five primary components integral to developing an accurate irrigation management system that saves water while ensuring adequate moisture for plant growth. These involve the following:
- Plant measurements
- Model development based on plant water use
- Model validation
- User friendly software development
- Site-specific application of above parameters to wirelessly sense and remotely predict plant water needs.
