Analysis of leaf wetness in the rice crop caused by dew formation—a simulation study

Abstract

Daily dew amount and dew duration were simulated using a multi-layer energy balance model. Two simplifications were made in the model and validated. First, the simulation results showed that daily weather data instead of hourly weather data could be used to simulate dew formation in crops, which was validated by measurements for short grass vegetation. Second, estimation of the total daily dew period was shown to be possible on the basis of nightly dew formation only. This simplification was possible on the basis of the existence of a linear relationship between the dew period after sunrise on the one hand and the dew amount at sunrise on the other. The multi-layer crop microweather model becomes much smaller and simpler (and is then called the SIMPLE model) if only night dew formation is simulated. Our results will make it possible to incorporate the SIMPLE model into a fungal disease epidemic model and a basic crop growth model.