The Bushland, Texas, alfalfa, soybean, sunflower, and winter wheat evapotranspiration, growth, and yield dataset collections

Authors: Evett, Steven; Marek, Gary; Colaizzi, Paul; Copeland, Karen; Ruthardt, Brice

Submitted to: Scientific Data
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/30/2025
Publication Date: 12/17/2025
Citation: Evett, S.R., Marek, G.W., Colaizzi, P.D., Copeland, K.S., Ruthardt, B.B. 2025. The Bushland, Texas, alfalfa, soybean, sunflower, and winter wheat evapotranspiration, growth, and yield dataset collections. Scientific Data. 12. Article 1947 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-025-06225-9.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-025-06225-9

Interpretive Summary: A collection of datasets is presented describing four seasons of irrigation and crop water use experiments with alfalfa (1996–1999), five seasons of experiments with soybean (1995, 2003, 2004, 2010, 2019), two years of experiments with sunflower (2009, 2011), and three seasons of experiments on winter wheat (1989-1990, 1991-1992, 1992-1993). Four weighing lysimeters were used to determine crop evapotranspiration (ET). In-soil and above ground microclimate and ET data are presented on a 15-minute interval as are weather data for all days of the year. Data analysis determined ET (crop water use), precipitation, irrigation, and dew and frost accumulation on a 15-minute basis from lysimeter mass data. Soil water content data from calibrated neutron probe readings is presented on a periodic basis. Crop planting, harvest, fertilization, pest control, and other agronomic information are presented in agronomic calendars by day of year. Crop growth data are presented on a periodic basis throughout the growing season, as are final crop biomass and yield data. The data are suitable for analysis of effects of irrigation and other agronomic decisions on crop yield and water productivity in the Southern High Plains region of the USA, for model calibration and testing, and for model improvement.

Technical Abstract: Datasets are presented for experiments on alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) (1996–1999), soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) (1995, 2003, 2004, 2010, 2019), sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) (2009, 2011), and winter wheat (Triticum aestivum, L.) (1989–1990, 1991–1992, 1992–1993). Weighing lysimeters were used to determine crop evapotranspiration (ET). In-soil and above ground microclimate and ET data are presented on a 15-minute interval as are weather data for all days of the year. Soil water content data from calibrated neutron probe readings are presented on a periodic basis. Crop planting, harvest, fertilization, pest control, and other agronomic information for all 12 seasons are presented in agronomic calendars by day of year. Crop growth data are presented on a periodic basis throughout the growing season, as are crop biomass and yield data for each harvest. The data are suitable for model calibration, testing, and improvement, and for analysis of effects of weather, irrigation and other agronomic decisions on crop yield and water productivity in the Southern High Plains region of the USA.