The consequences of using microlysimeters: Why microlysimeters grossly overestimate dew amounts in arid regions? A critical review

Although commonly considered the gold standard for measurement of non-rainfall water (NRW), providing reasonable reliable data for vegetated soils, microlysimeters (MLs) tend to grossly overestimate NRW (primarily in form of dew) on barren soil. In arid and semiarid regions, the reported values may be overestimated by hundreds and even 1000 %. This bias is attributed to (i) the effect of the structure and dimension of the ML (ii) the tacit assumption that the weight difference between morning and the previous midday/evening results from dew or (iii) the belief that the MLs will provide reliable values if the difference in weight would be calculated only from the evening or night. For instance, from the time during which the air temperature reaches the dewpoint temperature or from the time during which condensation takes place on an adjacent leaf-wetness sensor. Calculating dew by the weight difference of MLs led to the notions that the fine-textured soil will necessarily promote higher values of dew, and the notion that higher amounts of dew are expected following days with low relative humidity, both of which hamper our understanding regarding dew formation. The reasons for the apparent different performance of MLs in vegetated (wet) and barren (arid) regions are discussed.