Evapotranspiration: The combined process of evaporation from the soil surface and plant transpiration.
Evapotranspiration is an important concept for gardeners to understand, as it directly relates to how much water your plants need. It’s the total amount of water that’s lost from your garden through two main ways: evaporation, which is water turning into vapor from the soil and any standing water, and transpiration, which is water vapor released by the plants themselves through tiny pores in their leaves.
Understanding evapotranspiration helps you water your garden more efficiently. Factors like temperature, humidity, wind, and sunlight all affect the evapotranspiration rate. On hot, sunny, and windy days, plants will lose more water, and the soil will dry out faster, meaning you’ll need to water more frequently. By paying attention to evapotranspiration, you can avoid overwatering or underwatering, ensuring your plants get just the right amount of moisture they need to thrive.
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