Large-Scale Spatial and Temporal Variability in Evapotranspiration, Crop Water-Use Efficiency, and Evapotranspiration Water-Use Efficiency of Irrigated and Rainfed Maize and Soybean

Abstract

Quantification of long-term trends and magnitudes of actual crop evapotranspiration (ETc) and crop water productivity [CWP, also known as crop water use efficiency (CWUE)], especially in relation to interannual variation in climate, is critical to determine whether current crop, soil, and irrigation management practices are effective in water conservation and enhancing CWUE. This research quantified and mapped long-term spatio-temporal variability in CWUE, evapotranspiration water use efficiency (ETWUE) and environmental variables associated with it at regional scales for maize (