Comparing actual transpiration fluxes as measured at leaf-scale and calculated by a physically based agro-hydrological model

The main purpose of this paper is to compare the actual transpiration rates from tomato crop, as measured at leaf scale and estimated by a macroscopic approach in an agro-hydrological model, named FLOWS-HAGES, under variable soil properties water availability. To aim, sixteen plots were cultivated with tomatoes Metaponto, Southern Italy. Soil hydraulic (SHP) obtained using fast in-situ characterization method. Leaf-area index (LAI) was leaf-area meter. SHP LAI then used physically-based FLOWS-HAGES which allowed calculating rates, Ta,m. Single-leaf Ta,l, stomatal conductance, gs,l, situ. For comparing Ta,m, gs,l upscaled Big-Leaf canopy gs,c, applied Penman-Monteith model obtain canopy-scale transpiration, Ta,c. Finally, multiple linear regression (MLR) find statistical relationship between Ta,m Ta,c, gs,c. Results showed that smooths spatial variability rates. Ta,c increased saturated content, θs, slope retention curve, n, while decreased increasing θs n. MLR improved significantly introducing gs,c predict