Discussion of “A floating lysimeter and its evaporation recorder”

Abstract

The authors should be commended for signing an inexpensive weighing lysimeter which seemingly has good possibilities in evaluating evapotranspiration under relatively natural conditions. However, some clarification is needed of their statements regarding the ‘effective area of lysimeters’ and the reduction of evapotranspiration caused by hay‐cutting, border effects, and microclimate.The authors place great emphasis on the effective irea of a lysimeter and indicate that their floating pan has minimized the possible effect of variations in effective area. Further more, they attribute part of the reduction in evapotranspiration after hay cutting to ‘cutting back of foliage which overhung the lysimeter wall’ and the possible effect of the tank rim on the micro‐climate of the lysimeter surface.