Effects of Increasing C4-Crop Cover and Stomatal Conductance on Evapotranspiration: Simulations for a Lake Erie Watershed
Accurate quantification of evapotranspiration (ET) is crucial for surface water resources and best agricultural management practices in watersheds. The aim of this study was to better understand ET changes caused by the rapid expansion of C4 (corn) cover and rapid changes in stomatal conductance, wh...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-04-01
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| Series: | Remote Sensing |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/14/8/1914 |
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| author | Chathuranga Kumara Senevirathne Anita Simic Milas Ganming Liu Margaret Mary Yacobucci Yahampath Anuruddha Marambe |
| author_facet | Chathuranga Kumara Senevirathne Anita Simic Milas Ganming Liu Margaret Mary Yacobucci Yahampath Anuruddha Marambe |
| author_sort | Chathuranga Kumara Senevirathne |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Accurate quantification of evapotranspiration (ET) is crucial for surface water resources and best agricultural management practices in watersheds. The aim of this study was to better understand ET changes caused by the rapid expansion of C4 (corn) cover and rapid changes in stomatal conductance, which may be amplified in the future due to environmental and human-contributing factors, such as climate change and agricultural practices. Linking the enlargement of agricultural land with the physiological properties of crops, such as photosynthetic adaptations and stomatal conductance, is necessary to explore the magnitude of these impacts. This study examined the effects of increased C4 (corn) crop cover and stomatal conductance on evapotranspiration (ET) rates in the Lower Maumee River Watershed, Ohio, USA, during the 2018 growing season. Simulation results using a modified-for-crops version of the Boreal Ecosystem Productivity Simulator (BEPS) showed that a hypothetical increase of corn cover by as much as 100% would not significantly impact the watershed ET rate, with a 5.05% overall increase in ET in July and a 3.96% increase in August. Changes in the stomatal conductance of crops, however, impacted ET more. The results showed a significant increase in the ET rate (up to 24.04% for corn and 5.10% for soybean) for the modeling scenario that integrated high stomatal conductance, which agreed with the thermal-based ECOSTRESS ET product derived over the study area (+/−0.9 mm day<sup>−1</sup>) for the same period. We suggest that the alteration of the crop stomata mechanism, caused largely by rapid climate change and intensive farming practices, should be carefully quantified, and its impact on hydrology at the ecosystem level further explored. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T04:15:26Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d3329bb0cad04522a78bcc78f53516c8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-4292 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T04:15:26Z |
| publishDate | 2022-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Remote Sensing |
| spelling | doaj.art-d3329bb0cad04522a78bcc78f53516c82023-12-03T13:56:08ZengMDPI AGRemote Sensing2072-42922022-04-01148191410.3390/rs14081914Effects of Increasing C4-Crop Cover and Stomatal Conductance on Evapotranspiration: Simulations for a Lake Erie WatershedChathuranga Kumara Senevirathne0Anita Simic Milas1Ganming Liu2Margaret Mary Yacobucci3Yahampath Anuruddha Marambe4Department of Geology, School of Earth, Environment and Society, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH 43403, USADepartment of Geology, School of Earth, Environment and Society, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH 43403, USADepartment of Geology, School of Earth, Environment and Society, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH 43403, USADepartment of Geology, School of Earth, Environment and Society, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH 43403, USADepartment of Geology, School of Earth, Environment and Society, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH 43403, USAAccurate quantification of evapotranspiration (ET) is crucial for surface water resources and best agricultural management practices in watersheds. The aim of this study was to better understand ET changes caused by the rapid expansion of C4 (corn) cover and rapid changes in stomatal conductance, which may be amplified in the future due to environmental and human-contributing factors, such as climate change and agricultural practices. Linking the enlargement of agricultural land with the physiological properties of crops, such as photosynthetic adaptations and stomatal conductance, is necessary to explore the magnitude of these impacts. This study examined the effects of increased C4 (corn) crop cover and stomatal conductance on evapotranspiration (ET) rates in the Lower Maumee River Watershed, Ohio, USA, during the 2018 growing season. Simulation results using a modified-for-crops version of the Boreal Ecosystem Productivity Simulator (BEPS) showed that a hypothetical increase of corn cover by as much as 100% would not significantly impact the watershed ET rate, with a 5.05% overall increase in ET in July and a 3.96% increase in August. Changes in the stomatal conductance of crops, however, impacted ET more. The results showed a significant increase in the ET rate (up to 24.04% for corn and 5.10% for soybean) for the modeling scenario that integrated high stomatal conductance, which agreed with the thermal-based ECOSTRESS ET product derived over the study area (+/−0.9 mm day<sup>−1</sup>) for the same period. We suggest that the alteration of the crop stomata mechanism, caused largely by rapid climate change and intensive farming practices, should be carefully quantified, and its impact on hydrology at the ecosystem level further explored.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/14/8/1914evapotranspirationboreal ecosystem productivity simulatorC3 and C4 cropsleaf area indexstomatal conductance |
| spellingShingle | Chathuranga Kumara Senevirathne Anita Simic Milas Ganming Liu Margaret Mary Yacobucci Yahampath Anuruddha Marambe Effects of Increasing C4-Crop Cover and Stomatal Conductance on Evapotranspiration: Simulations for a Lake Erie Watershed Remote Sensing evapotranspiration boreal ecosystem productivity simulator C3 and C4 crops leaf area index stomatal conductance |
| title | Effects of Increasing C4-Crop Cover and Stomatal Conductance on Evapotranspiration: Simulations for a Lake Erie Watershed |
| title_full | Effects of Increasing C4-Crop Cover and Stomatal Conductance on Evapotranspiration: Simulations for a Lake Erie Watershed |
| title_fullStr | Effects of Increasing C4-Crop Cover and Stomatal Conductance on Evapotranspiration: Simulations for a Lake Erie Watershed |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effects of Increasing C4-Crop Cover and Stomatal Conductance on Evapotranspiration: Simulations for a Lake Erie Watershed |
| title_short | Effects of Increasing C4-Crop Cover and Stomatal Conductance on Evapotranspiration: Simulations for a Lake Erie Watershed |
| title_sort | effects of increasing c4 crop cover and stomatal conductance on evapotranspiration simulations for a lake erie watershed |
| topic | evapotranspiration boreal ecosystem productivity simulator C3 and C4 crops leaf area index stomatal conductance |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/14/8/1914 |
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