Location: Soil and Water Management Research
Project Number: 3090-13000-016-080-R
Project Type: Reimbursable Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Sep 15, 2024
End Date: Sep 14, 2028
Objective:
Objective 1. Developing standardized farm-based mesonet weather tools for the the cooperator and creating an open-access website for all three research sites (TSU-NCF, TSU-CCREF, and TSU-OFNRC).
Objective 2. Designing and constructing artificial hot and cold reference surfaces that represent the temperature dynamics of dry bare soil and fully transpiring ryegrass.
Objective 3. Evaluating the accuracy of UAS-METRIC energy balance model during the growing season at middle Tennessee.
Objective 4. Investigating the performance of different machine learning models compared to the ASCE-PM (American Society of Civil Engineers-Penman-Monteith) method for estimating reference evapotranspiration on a daily and hourly basis in the hot and humid weather conditions of Tennessee.
Objective 5. Developing statewide workshops and training for precision irrigation management.
Approach:
ARS scientists will mentor and guide university cooperators in research of mutual interest to develop a standardized farm-based mesonet weather tool, design and build artificial hot and cold reference surfaces, evaluate the accuracy of the UAS-METRIC model in Tennessee conditions, and develop a state-wide network of workshops and training. Phd students will conduct research at ARS Bushland to learn use, data management, and crop water use estimation using eddy covariance methods applied to projects of ARS scientists.