Long-term evapotranspiration rates for rainfed corn vs. perennial bioenergy crops in a mesic landscape

Hydrologic implications of the conversion of agricultural or conservation
lands for annual vs. perennial bioenergy crop production are scarce. We
converted three 22 year-old Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) grasslands
and three 50+ year-old conventionally tilled corn-soybean rotation
agricultural (AGR) lands to no-till corn, switchgrass (Panicum virgatum
L.) or restored prairie. A seventh site was maintained in the preexisting
CRP grassland dominated by smooth brome grass (Bromus inermis L.). We
measured evapotranspiration (ET) using the eddy covariance method on all
fields for over more than nine years (2009-2018). The ET data are
presented for annual, growing season, and non-growing seasons. The
difference in ET between corn and perennial crops is also presented for
all seasons. In addition, aboveground net primary productivity (ANPP)
during peak growing season is presented.