RIBEIRO, Moisés S.; CARVALHO, Luiz G. de.; BESKOW, Samuel.; MOURA, Débora C. M. de.
Abstract:
They are enough estimates methods of reference evapotranspiration ETo, however, just
some are more used and some developed in conditions Brazilian, but little known, being part of these
methods accepted, other criticized and until despised. The diversities of results reached by the
different methods have been causes of the researcher`s concern, that is, which method esteems ETo
correctly. As well as, the absence of certain meteorological variables registered in the irrigated areas it
can carried out the technicians to use simpler methods, certainly, another method that involves
additional data it could supply more representative results of the reality. Like the Penman-Monteith-
FAO (PM-FAO) method for estimate ETo need a great number of meteorological elements, this work
was carried out to evaluate the correlation among different methods used in determination of ETo. The
Hargreaves-Samani and Jesen-Haise methods were the most suitable for the estimate of ETo. The
Tanque Classe A method in spite of low precision presented high accuracy. The Blaney-Criddle and
Thornthwaite methods were not adjusted satisfactorily for the estimate of ETo in the daily scale. The
methods Penman-1963, Penman-FAO and Penman-FAO-Combinado, were that presented the best
results, however these methodologies are plenty similar to PM-FAO.