Growth and Yield Data for the Bushland, Texas Alfalfa Datasets
type: Dataset
description: This dataset consists of growth and yield data for each year when alfalfa was grown at the USDA-ARS Conservation and Production Laboratory (CPRL), Soil and Water Management Research Unit (SWMRU) research weather station, Bushland, Texas (Lat. 35.186714°, Long. -102.094189°, elevation 1170 m above MSL). Alfalfa was grown on two large, precision weighing lysimeters, each in the center of a 4.44 ha square field. The two square fields were themselves arranged with one directly north of and contiguous with the other. The two fields and lysimeters within each field were designated northeast (NE), and southeast (SE). Irrigation was by linear move sprinkler system in autumn 1995 when the alfalfa was planted through 1999. Irrigations were managed to replenish soil water used by the crop on a weekly or more frequent basis as determined by soil profile water content readings made with a neutron probe to 2.4-m depth in the field. The growth and yield data include height, leaf area index, growth stage, total above-ground biomass, leaf and stem biomass, and final yield. Data are from replicate samples in the field and non-destructive (except for harvest) measurements on the weighing lysimeters. In most cases yield data are available from both manual sampling on replicate plots in each field and from machine harvest. These datasets originate from research aimed at determining crop water use (ET), crop coefficients for use in ET-based irrigation scheduling based on a reference ET, crop growth, yield, harvest index, and crop water productivity as affected by irrigation method, timing, amount (full or some degree of deficit), agronomic practices, cultivar, and weather. Prior publications have focused on alfalfa ET, comparisons with "tall crop" reference ET, crop coefficients, and crop water productivity. Crop coefficients have been used by ET networks. The data have utility for testing simulation models of crop ET, growth, and yield, and for studies of reference ET methods.
issued: 2025-11-21T06:04:33.734947
modified: 2022-04-21
spatial: Location
contact point: Organization
  fn: Evett, Steven R.
keyword: alfalfa
keyword: amerigeo
keyword: amerigeoss
keyword: ckan
keyword: crop-water-productivity
keyword: evapotranspiration
keyword: geo
keyword: geoss
keyword: growth-and-yield
keyword: national
keyword: north-america
keyword: np211
keyword: reference-et
keyword: united-states

MS Excel File
type: Distribution
description: 1996_alfalfa_plant_growth_%26_yield.xlsx
format: XLS
issued: 2022-05-14T00:50:33.053526
modified: 2025-11-21T06:04:33.725566
access URL: https://data.nal.usda.gov/system/files/1996_alfalfa_plant_growth_%26_yield.xlsx
media type: application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet

MS Excel File
type: Distribution
description: 1997_alfalfa_plant_growth_%26_yield.xlsx
format: XLS
issued: 2022-05-14T00:50:33.053533
modified: 2025-11-21T06:04:33.725981
access URL: https://data.nal.usda.gov/system/files/1997_alfalfa_plant_growth_%26_yield.xlsx
media type: application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet

MS Excel File
type: Distribution
description: 1999_alfalfa_plant_growth_%26_yield.xlsx
format: XLS
issued: 2022-05-14T00:50:33.053539
modified: 2025-11-21T06:04:33.726788
access URL: https://data.nal.usda.gov/system/files/1999_alfalfa_plant_growth_%26_yield.xlsx
media type: application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet

MS Excel File
type: Distribution
description: 1998_alfalfa_plant_growth_%26_yield.xlsx
format: XLS
issued: 2022-05-14T00:50:33.053536
modified: 2025-11-21T06:04:33.726385
access URL: https://data.nal.usda.gov/system/files/1998_alfalfa_plant_growth_%26_yield.xlsx
media type: application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet

US Migrating
type: Agent