The influence of irrigation on the albedo of a peanut crop during its development cycle, and in particular on the day when irrigation took place, is analyzed in this study. The field research was conducted in the irrigated perimeter of the Experimental Station of CODEVASF, in the municipal district of Rodelas, BA, during the period of September to December of 1996. The results showed that the albedo suffered significant variations on the days of irrigation as well as on the day after irrigation. Under normal conditions, the albedo varied from a maximum of 29.8% in the initial phase of the experiment with the soil still uncovered, to a minimum of 18.6% at the end of the kernel development phase. However, on the days of irrigation, the albedo varied with the time of irrigation. The daily mean value of the albedo reduced by 6.4% when the irrigations took place in the early hours of the morning.
radiation balance; irrigation; peanut
