Combining stable isotopes, Eddy Covariance system and meteorological measurements for partitioning evapotranspiration, of winter wheat, into soil evaporation and plant transpiration in a semi-arid region

A good knowledge of the partitioning of evapotranspiration (ET) is particularly important for improving crop water productivity, especially in semi-arid regions where irrigated agriculture uses up to 85% of total available water. In this paper, stable isotopic method and micrometeorological data were combined to assess the ET partition into plant transpiration and soil evaporation of an irrigated winter wheat field lying in the center of Morocco characterized by a semi-arid climate. Atmospheric, vegetation and soil samples were collected during two consecutive growing seasons (2011–2012 and 2012–2013). The sampling campaign was carried out after and before two irrigation events and lasted for five days.