Measurement of evapotranspiration during sprinkler irrigation using a precision energy budget (Bowen ratio, eddy covariance) methodology

Eddy covariance (ECV) is a micrometeorological mass transfer method for measuring evapotranspiration (ET) which has been used successfully for the last decade to measure evapotranspiration from natural and agricultural plant communities. However, no such usage has been reported in relation to evaporation losses occurring during sprinkler irrigation. Instead, sprinkler irrigation research has focused on using traditional methods acknowledged to have many limitations. In this field study, the feasibility of precision energy budget measurement, utilising ECV, to measure the total ET during sprinkler irrigation over different surfaces has been established.