M. Fuchs’s scientific contributions

Water conservation claims in favor of trickle irrigation are poorly documented. The radiation and energy balance of tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum L. ‘Arava S-5’) grown on sand dune soil and on bare soil irrigated by sprinkling and trickling were compared. Under trickle irrigation, the average ratio of five energy balance measurements of evapotranspiration over evaporation pan (Class A) was 0.3, compared with 0.60 obtained under sprinkler irrigation. The comparison of radiation balance over the trickle and sprinkler irrigated plots indicates that the increased radiant heat loss and albedo from the dry portion of the trickle irrigated plot decreases the available evaporative energy at ground level. The smaller radiant heat load combines with the resistance of the dry soil to water flux to reduce the evaporation of the trickle irrigated plot. Please view the pdf by using the Full Text (PDF) link under 'View' to the left. Copyright © . .