Ag Water Conservation Policy

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Developing corn regional crop coefficients using a satellite-based energy balance model (ReSET) in the South Platte River area of Colorado
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2010) Elhaddad, Aymn, author; Garcia, Luis A., author; Altenhofen, Jon, author; Hattendorf, Mary, author; U.S. Committee on Irrigation and Drainage, publisher
Accurate estimates of evapotranspiration for agricultural crops are essential for water resources management and for crop production. Traditional methods for estimating crop evapotranspiration are based on weather based reference evapotranspiration estimates multiplied by a crop coefficient (Kc). The crop coefficient varies based on crop type and growth stage and optimum growing conditions are assumed in this approach. Satellite based energy balance models can directly measure actual ET in fields and these measurements can be used to develop crop coefficients for different crops for a particular region. In this study a surface energy balance model (ReSET) is used to measure actual ET for corn fields in the South Plate River Basin of Colorado. The study covers four growing seasons (2001, 2004, 2005 and 2006). A total of 79 Landsat 5 and 7 images were used for the four years using two satellite paths 33/32 and 32/32.