Transcript Law supply
Simplified Landscape Irrigation Demand Estimation A New Method of Estimating Landscape Water Demand Roger Kjelgren and Larry Rupp Center for Water Efficient Landscaping Utah State University Why do we use water in landscapes? “I was nearly twelve before I saw either a bathtub or a water closet; and when I walked past my first lawn,… I stooped down and touched its cool nap in awe and unbelief. I think I held my breath - I had not known that people anywhere lived with such grace.” Wallace Stegner Why should you understand landscape water demand? 1. Water allocation o o Water agencies increasingly are allocating fixed amounts to end user Landscape designs need to estimate expected demand within water allocation; agencies can track through billing data analysis 2. Landscape architect/contractor/maintenance o o Guidelines for irrigation system design Aid in irrigation scheduling – when and how much? o Drought o o Minimum water for survival Especially important for woody plants Defining Landscape Water Demand ET, mm Water Use, MGD 700 600 200 500 150 400 100 300 200 50 100 0 0 J F M A M J J A S O N D Irrigation is used to bridge the difference between water demand and water availability SLC Water use, MGD Rain or ET, mm 250 Rain, mm How is water demand typically quantified? • • Inches of water lost to evapotranspiration (ET) Amounts to about 0-0.25 inch/day 𝑬𝑻𝒐 = 𝑷𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝑻𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒔𝒑𝒊𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 + 𝑺𝒐𝒊𝒍 𝑬𝒗𝒂𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 Evapo-transpiration Rate: ETo • Calculated water lost from hypothetical 12 cm/4 inch high cool season, clipped/mowed turf<=sun, heat, wind, humidity • Range 0 – 6 mm/day (0-0.25”/day) ET= + Soil Plant Transpiration Evaporation ETo is based on field research with agricultural crops Uniform crop surface similar to turfgrass surface Estimating Water Demand Based on ETo • Determine the ETo (historical or real time) • Determine the percentage of ETo that provides optimum yield for a specific crop (Plant Factor-Kp) • Determine ETa (actual) by multiplying ETo by Kp • Replace ET by irrigation as needed based on soil type, etc. Plant Water Use (Eta) = ETo X Kp ETo-Kp Approach: Turf OK ETo Approach: Problems • Assumes continuous uniform surface, water use 2-D; urban landscapes often non-uniform, non-continuous, water use 3-D • Assumes fixed Kp to avoid water stress for optimum yield; landscapes do not have economic yield-how much is enough? • Assumes small # food/fiber species; >1,000 landscape species differing in water use traits ETo Background: Problems; #2 • Economic Yield • Water applied In landscapes, $ value water input ≠ ≈ value of landscape Instead, minimum water demand for acceptable appearance 13 Prescriptive Landscape Water Demand Estimation: ETo-Kp • California-Water Use Coefficients of Landscape Species (WUCOLS) • • Landscape Water Use = ETo X Kp X Density Factor X Microclimate Factor Species factor=3 water demand categorizations based on committee decision • EPA Water Sense • ETo x Kp, but Kp variable based on plant type, size • Too comple: complicated, difficult, false precision • • The very complexity of excellent landscapes makes it difficult to prescribe a water management plan A descriptive approach is more practical • Law complexitysimplicity: Complexity , precision Precision , simplifying Simplifying , knowledge Law supply-demand: Water supply , Knowledge • Prescriptive=complex • Descriptive=simplifying with knowledge Descriptive Approach: Simplified Landscape Irrigation Demand Irrigation= SLIDE Rules • Kp = minimum water demand =>acceptable appearance may include water stress • Assume all species Kp = 50% of ETo unless evidence otherwise • Number of transpiring leaves more important than Kp Minimum water demand; many landscape species can be water stressed but look OK SLIDE Rules • If water stress OK, how much water needed to avoid not OK • Assume Kp = replace 50% of ETo will work for almost all landscape plants • When you know a species can tolerate less, irrigate at lower rate; greatest risk with trees that are greatest investment Minimum % of ETo required for trees varies with climate and species, but 50% safely overlaps most non turf plants Reference evapotranspiration ETo for Salt Lake City: water to Month May June July Aug. Sept. Ave Monthly ETo, in. 5.4 6.5 7.7 6.6 4.5 Rainfall, inches 2.0 0.9 0.8 0.9 1.5 Net monthly water demand turf, 80% 2.3 4.3 5.4 4.4 2.1 ETo minus rain Net monthly water demand trees 50% 0.7 2.4 3.0 2.4 0.8 ETo minus Reference ET and Leaf Area • More leaves = more water loss • Larger trees or increased numbers of trees takes more water Desert is characterized by large distances between plants Native Species: Evidence of Water Use 23 Native Species: Response to Microclimate Medium/small leaves, evergreen Aspen More broadleaf species Oak Small, thick, blue leaves Buffaloberry Very small to no leaves 24 Mormon tea Eriogonm corymbosum USU Botanical Center Landscape Lysimeter Study Simplified Landscape Irrigation Demand Estimation: SLIDE Rules • Minimum demand is based on acceptable appearance, therefore a mild deficit is okay • Basic assumption is woody plants have a coefficient of 0.5 unless there is concrete evidence for a higher or lower value • Actual leaf area is best indicator of total water use Total Plant Water Use = ETo X Kp X Leaf Area Transpiring leaf area ≈ crown diameter2 Crown diameter2 may underestimate true leaf area 27 How do you estimate leaf area? 6’ A tree with a 6 ft crown diameter has roughly 36 ft2 of leaf area 6’ Simplifying assumption: crown diameter in ft2 ≈ gallons needed to apply 2 inches of water Simplest SLIDE Approach for Drip Irrigated Non Turf Plants • How much: apply 2 inches water every irrigation = crown diameter2 • How often: seasonal ETo (after rain stops) x 0.5 (Kp) ÷ 2 inches/irrigation What is the risk of plant damage if estimate to high or low ? • Drought can also harm or kill landscape plants Reducing risk? Knowledge • • • • • Understand plant types and adaptations Use good plant selection for situation Be aware of soil conditions Be observant Be flexible Summary SLIDE Rules • Non turf urban landscapes are complex; simplify water demand • Knowing volume of transpiration (from leaf area) more important than rate of water use • Assume 0.5 Kp as rate of water use (% ETo) for all plants unless evidence otherwise • Irrigation amount: same each irrigation • • Drip irrigation, 2” water ≈ gallons needed crown diameter2 Irrigation frequency ≈ ETo x 0.5 ÷ inches per irrigation Questions?