HIGHWAY LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE WATER CONSERVATION. FINAL REPORT

The Crop Water Stress Index (CWSI) uses leaf temperature and air vapor pressure deficit data to calculate a relative amount of water stress. The CWSI has been successfully applied to agronomic plants but has not been applied to landscape plants. The Arizona Department of Transportation funded a research project to determine if the CWSI can be used to efficiently irrigate freeway landscape plants. Nine species of landscape plants were studied on the Superstition Freeway in Mesa, AZ. Leaf temperatures were measured with an infrared thermometer (IRT). Results showed that the CWSI was suited to two of the nine species. Two factors were essential for the successful application of the CWSI. First, plants had to have a sufficiently dense canopy so that only foliage is viewed by the IRT. Second, well watered plants needed to transpire at a maximum rate duriing midday. The use of the CWSI to irrigate freeway landscape plants appears to be limited based on the low proportion of plants which were suited to the CWSI.

• Corporate Authors:

  Arizona State University, Tempe

  Division of Agriculture
  Tempe, AZ  United States  85287

  Arizona Department of Transportation

  206 South 17th Avenue
  Phoenix, AZ  United States  85007

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Niemiera, A X
  • Goy, M
• Publication Date: 1988-4

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 30 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Irrigation; Landscape maintenance; Plants; Water conservation
• Old TRIS Terms: Crop water stress index; Infrared thermometry
• Subject Areas: Design; Environment; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; I61: Equipment and Maintenance Methods;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00469923
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA-AZ88-265
• Contract Numbers: PL-1 (31) Item 265
• Files: TRIS, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Jul 31 1988 12:00AM