Winter wheat canopy interception and its influence factors under sprinkler irrigation

Field studies on winter wheat canopy interception with its relations to leaf area index (LAI), plant height, drop diameter, wind speed, and water application intensity were carried out. Canopy interception was measured using the water wiping method. Results indicate that the maximum value of winter wheat canopy interception was not more than 1.0 mm, much smaller than presented by previous investigators. The total canopy interception for the growing season was 2.4 mm, only 1.3% of the total irrigation amount (194.6 mm), for four sprinkler irrigation events during 2003. Canopy interception increased as leaf area index and plant height increased. A linear regression model was developed to express the relationship of canopy interception with leaf area index and plant height. There was good agreement between the values of canopy interception measured using the water wiping method and estimated using the linear regression model. Results also indicate that canopy interception decreased as drop diameter and wind speed increased. An exponential relationship was found between canopy interception and drop size, and a linear relationship between canopy interception and the square of the wind speed. Water application intensity does not affect canopy interception significantly.