Accurate estimation of transpiration (Tr) is important in the development of precise irrigation scheduling and to enhance water-use efficiency in agricultural production. In this study, the air temperature (Ta) and relative humidity (RH) were measured at three different heights (0.5, 1.0, and 1.8 m above the ground near the plant canopy) parameterize aerodynamic resistance (ra) based on the heat transfer coefficient method and to estimate Tr using the Stanghellini model (SM) during two growing seasons of cucumber in a greenhouse. The canopy resistance (rc) was parameterized by an exponential relationship of stomata resistance and solar radiation, and the estimated Tr was compared to the values measured with lysimeters. After parameterization of ra and rc, the efficiency (EF) and the Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) of the estimated Tr by the SM based on micrometeorological data at a height of 0.5 m were 95% and 18 W m−2, respectively, while the corresponding values were 86% and 29 W m−2 at a height of 1.8 m for the autumn planting season. For the spring planting season, the EF and RMSE were 92% and 34 W m−2 at a height of 0.5 m, while the corresponding values were 81% and 56 W m−2 at a height of 1.8 m, respectively. This work demonstrated that when micrometeorological data within the canopy was applied alongside the data measured above the canopy, the SM led to better agreement with the lysimeter measurements.@en

Estimating the latent heat flux accurately is important to improve greenhouse crops irrigation schedules. Aerodynamic and canopy resistances, as two key parameters in the Bulk transfer equations, are already difficult to measure in the open field and even more in greenhouses. In this study, an experiment was conducted in a Venlo-type cucumber greenhouse where meteorological data and the latent heat flux were measured with lysimeters. Two methods: (1) Inversing Bulk Transfer equation (IBTE-method) and (2) Appling a convective heat transfer coefficient (CHTC-method), were used to evaluate the aerodynamic resistance. A fixed aerodynamic resistance (= 35 s m⁻¹) was decided by analyzing the sensitivity of heat fluxes to its changes. The reproduced sensible and latent heat flux were compared to the measured values and the good agreements between measured and estimated values were obtained. The variation of daily canopy resistance which was calculated by IBTE-method was simulated by days after transplanting of cucumber plants and net radiation inside the greenhouse. Quadratic polynomial equations between canopy resistance and days after transplant were obtained, and were integrated into the Bulk transfer equation to predict the latent heat flux. The comparing of the measured and estimated latent heat flux showed that the Bulk transfer equation integrating the fixed aerodynamic resistance and canopy resistance sub-model could be used to predict the latent heat flux of greenhouse cucumber with the index of agreement higher than 0.8.

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