Comparing Reference Evapotranspiration Calculated in ETo Calculator (Ukraine) Mobile App with the Estimated by Standard FAO-Based Approach

Abstract

Reference evapotranspiration (ETo) is a key agrometeorological index for rational irrigation management. The standard method for ETo estimation, proposed by the FAO, is based on a complicated Penman–Monteith equation and requires many meteorological inputs, making it difficult for practical use by farmers. At present, there are many alternative simplified approaches for ETo estimation; most of them are directed at cutting the number of required meteorological inputs for calculation. Among them, special attention should be paid to the various temperature-based methods of ETo assessment. One of the temperature-based models for ETo computation was realized in the free mobile app ETo Calculator (Ukraine). The app gives Ukrainian farmers an opportunity to assess ETo values on a daily or monthly scale using mean air temperature, obtained through free online meteorological forecasts and archive services, as the only input. The objective of the study was to test the app’s accuracy compared to FAO-based calculations in five key regions of Ukraine, each representing a particular climatic zone of the country. It was established that the app provides relatively good accuracy of ETo estimation even in raw (not adjusted to wind speed and relative air humidity) runs. The results of the statistical comparison with the FAO-calculated values on the daily scale are as follows: R2 within 0.82–0.87, RMSE within 0.74–0.81 mm, MAE within 0.60–0.70 mm, MAPE within 18.07–25.50%, depending on the region. The results of the statistical comparison with the FAO-calculated values on the monthly scale are: R2 within 0.88–0.95, RMSE within 0.50–0.72 mm, MAE within 0.33–0.59 mm, MAPE within 8.96–24.08% depending on the region. The ETo Calculator (Ukraine) is a good alternative to the complicated Penman–Monteith method and could be recommended for Ukrainian farmers to be used for irrigation management.