Investigation of Valiantzas' simplified forms of FAO56 Penman-Monteith reference evapotranspiration models in a semi-arid region

. The performance of sixteen Valiantzas' reference evapotranspiration models was investigated using the meteorological data obtained from Agricultural Engineering College and Research Institute, Kumulur, Lalgudi Taluk of Tiruchirapalli district, which is a semi-arid region located in Tamil Nadu, India. The Valiantzas' reference evapotranspiration was compared with the globally used FAO56 Penman-Monteith method. The indexes used for comparison are coefficient of determination (R2), Standard Error Estimate (SEE) and long-term average ratio (RT). The Valiantzas' models requiring complete dataset performed excellently in this station. The models not requiring wind speed data also performed equally well in this station and exhibited a fairly good correlation with FAO56-PM method. The other formulae accounting for local average wind conditions, reduced set formulae with temperature and relative humidity data alone and reduced set formulae with temperature and radiation data alone also performed well in this station. The investigation showed fair accuracy of Valiantzas' Models and hence researchers can use these models in the absence of availability of the complete dataset.