ARS | Publication request: Bushland Reference ET Calculator with QA/QC capabilities and iPhone/iPad application

Submitted to: ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: June 28, 2012
Publication Date: October 23, 2012
Citation: Ennis, J.R., Gowda, P., Howell, T.A., Marek, T.H., Porter, D.O. 2012. Bushland Reference ET Calculator with QA/QC capabilities and iPhone/iPad application [abstract]. ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting Abstracts. 2012 CDROM. Paper No. 209-5.

Technical Abstract: Accurate daily reference evapotranspiration (ET) values are needed to estimate crop water demand for irrigation management and hydrologic modeling purposes. The USDA-ARS Conservation and Production Research Laboratory at Bushland, Texas developed the Bushland Reference ET (BET) Calculator for calculating hourly and daily grass and alfalfa reference ET. The user-friendly interface for the calculator was developed using VB.NET programming for Windows-based computers. The calculator uses the ASCE Standardized Reference (ET) Equation for calculating both grass and alfalfa reference ET at hourly and daily time steps. Users have the option of using a single set or time-series weather data to calculate reference ET. Daily reference ET can be calculated by summing the hourly ET values either for a given day or by using daily averages of the weather data. New enhancements to the BET Calculator include graphic capabilities to conduct quality assurance/quality control of weather data as well as calculated reference ET. In addition, efforts are being made to add predictive modeling capabilities using ordinary least square and advanced statistical learning regression methods. A smart phone version of the BET Calculator was developed for calculating a single hourly or daily grass/alfalfa reference ET for current location using the nearest weather station or any other geographic location. This paper demonstrates use of Windows-based and iPhone/iPad versions of the Bushland Reference ET Calculator that is being distributed through the USDA-ARS web site and Apple's App store to interested users at no cost.