4.

Transpiration:

• Transpiration consists of the vaporization of liquid

water contained in plant tissues and the vapour
removal to the atmosphere.

• Crops predominately lose their water through

stomata.
Factors affecting Transpiration:

• Temperature: Increase in temperature increases

transpiration

• Solar Radiation: Increase in solar radiation

increases transpiration. 95% of transpiration occurs
during the day

• Wind: Increased wind velocity increases

transpiration
• Soil Moisture: Decrease in soil moisture decreases
transpiration

• Physiological factors:

 Density and characteristics of stomata

 Leaf structure etc

Estimation of Transpiration:
a) Phytometer:
• It’s a large vessel filled with soil and in which plants
are grown

• Soil surface has a sealing material to prevent

evaporation from soil.

• Initial weight of the vessel with plants is taken and

transpiration is determined from the weight loss

Read about potometers

5. Evapotranspiration ET:

• Sum of water transpired by the plant and that

evaporated from the adjacent soil.

• Evapotranspiration rate is normally expressed in

millimetres (mm) per unit time

Potential evapotranspiration: Maximum ET occurring

if there is no deficiency of water available in the soil
in fully vegetative basin
5.1 Factors affecting Evapotranspiration:

• Meteorological factors: The principal weather

parameters affecting evapotranspiration are
radiation, air temperature, humidity and wind
speed. 

• Crop factors: The crop type, variety and

development stage should be considered when
assessing the evapotranspiration from crops grown
in large, well-managed fields. 
• Soil Moisture: Less soil moisture , less ET

• Adjoining land: ET is less if adjoining land is also

cropped

• Density of Vegetation: Greater density , greater

density
5.2: Estimation of ET

• Evapotranspiration is not easy to measure. 

Methods Include:

i) Lysimeter Method
ii) Empirical Method
iii) Analytical Methods
i) Lysimeter:

• Also called an evapotranspirator

• It’s fixed on the ground and plants grow on top of

it

• Sides are impervoius but bottom is previous

• Water is applied to crops at surface and unutilized

water drains through the bottom and is measured
• The amount of water lost by ET can be worked out
by calculating the difference between the amount
before and after the precipitation input.
ii) Empirical Methods:

a) Blaney – Criddle Equation

b) Thornthwaite Equation

Please read further on these

6.0 Infiltration:

• Process by which water enters the soil from the

ground surface
(differentiate from percolation)

• Responsible for sub surface and ground water flow

• Usually measured as a depth per unit time

(infiltration rate)
Factors affecting Infiltration:

• Soil Moisture: Infiltration rate is higher in dry soils

• Type of Soil Medium: Depends on soil type and

texture

• Vegetation cover

• Soil Compaction
Measurement of Infiltration Rate:

• The most common method to measure the infiltration

rate is by a field test using a cylinder or ring
infiltrometer.

See Experimental Set up Write up