Irrigation website can increase efficiency

Irrigation experts know that ?EUR??,,????'??potential evapo-transpiration,?EUR??,,????'?? or PET, is a measure of evaporation affecting irrigation requirements. Now a recently-introduced web site can help supervisors use PET estimates to adjust watering rates?EUR??,,????'??+and save money and water.

The web site is produced by the Texas A&M University System?EUR??,,????'???s Agricultural Research and Extension Center at Overton, Texas. The site includes specific weather data for the area of east Texas around Overton, but offers PET information that will be of interest to large and small-scale irrigators. The address is etweather.tamu.edu.

Everyone knows that landscaped areas need less water when it?EUR??,,????'???s cool and cloudy. Rain, wind and humidity also affect the equation. An accurate PET estimate lets supervisors limit water without impacting plants?EUR??,,????'??? health.

Researchers estimate that close to half of irrigation water is wasted through runoff and evaporation. During summer months, irrigation accounts for as much as 80 percent of home water use, according to the university?EUR??,,????'???s Irrigation Technology Center.