scholarly journals Crop Coefficient Use as a Criterion to Irrigate to Save Water on Grapevines

HortScience ◽  
1995 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 838C-838
Author(s):  
Fabian Robles-Contreras ◽  
Adan Fimbres-Fontes ◽  
Arturo Lopez-Carvajal
Keyword(s):  
Water Use ◽  
Water Consumption ◽  
Water Availability ◽  
Production System ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Fruit Set ◽  
Crop Coefficient ◽  
Shoot Elongation ◽  
Thompson Seedless ◽  
Wine Production

Grapes are the most extensively grown crop in the agricultural area of Caborca, Sonora, Mexico (14,000 ha), and water availability is the main limitation of the crop production system. Commonly, grapevines are irrigated with 150–200 cm of water/year. Therefore, it is important to make efficient use of this resource. To demonstrate that the crop criterion (CC) to irrigate is adequate to decrease the water-use efficient, the growers criteria was compared with CC during 1990 and 1991 in a commercial plot of `Thompson Seedless' grapes for wine production grown in a drip-irrigated system. The CC used was: 7.5%, 15.0%, 52.0%, 80.0%, 30.0%, and 7.5% at budbreak state (0–20 days), shoot elongation (21–40 days), fruit set (41–60 days), first harvest (61 days to harvest), during harvest (until 130 days), and postharvest (130–240 days), respectively. Our results indicate that water consumption using CC is 90 cm/year vs. 147–187 cm/year with growers criteria, the use of which did not affect yield.

scholarly journals INFLUÊNCIA DA COBERTURA MORTA NA EVAPOTRANSPIRAÇÃO, COEFICIENTE DE CULTIVO E EFICIÊNCIA DE USO DE ÁGUA DO MILHO CULTIVADO EM CERRADO

Irriga ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 352
Author(s):  
HIPÓLITO MURGA-ORRILLO ◽  
WELLINGTON FARIAS ARAUJO ◽  
CARLOS ABANTO RODRIGUEZ ◽  
RICARDO MANUEL BARDALES LOZANO ◽  
ROBERTO TADASHI SAKAZAKI ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Zea Mays ◽  
Water Use Efficiency ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Water Consumption ◽  
Irrigation Management ◽  
Crop Coefficient ◽  
Ground Cover ◽  
Bare Soil ◽  
Crop Cycle ◽  
Use Efficiency

INFLUÊNCIA DA COBERTURA MORTA NA EVAPOTRANSPIRAÇÃO, COEFICIENTE DE CULTIVO E EFICIÊNCIA DE USO DE ÁGUA DO MILHO CULTIVADO EM CERRADO HIPÓLITO MURGA-ORRILLO1; WELLINGTON FARIAS ARAÚJO2; CARLOS ABANTO-RODRIGUEZ3; ROBERTO TADASHI SAKAZAKI4; RICARDO MANUEL BARDALES-LOZANO5 E ANA ROSA POLO-VARGAS6 1Engenheiro Agrônomo, Prof. Auxiliar, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Chota, (UNACH), Jr. Gregorio Malca Nº 875- Campus Colpa Matara, Chota, Perú. [email protected] Agrônomo, Prof. Dr. Associado da UFRR/CCA, Boa Vista, RR. [email protected] Florestal, Investigador no Instituto de Investigaciones de la Amazonía Peruana, Carretera Federico Basadre, Km 12,400, Yarinacocha, Ucayali, Perú. [email protected] Agrônomo, Doutorando na UFRR/CCA, Boa Vista, RR. [email protected] Agrônomo, Doutorando na UFRR/Bionorte, Boa Vista, RR. [email protected] Agrônoma, Graduada na Universidad Nacional de Cajamarca, (UNC), Av. Atahualpa Nº 1050- Carretera Cajamarca-Baños del Inca, Cajamarca, Perú. [email protected]  1 RESUMOA irrigação consome grande quantidade de água, sendo importante um adequado manejo da cultura para minimizar esse consumo, maximizando a produção. No intuito de obter informações para o manejo da irrigação, objetivou-se com o presente trabalho determinar a evapotranspiração da cultura (ETc), o coeficiente de cultivo (Kc) e a eficiência do uso de água (EUAg) da cultura de milho, em solo com e sem cobertura, durante os diferentes estádios de desenvolvimento, utilizando lisímetros de drenagem. O experimento foi conduzido no campus Cauamé da Universidade Federal de Roraima, entre 19/04/2014 e 07/08/2014, em Boa Vista, RR. A evapotranspiração de referência (ETo) foi estimada pelo método de Penman-Monteith FAO. Os resultados da ETc do milho, durante o ciclo da cultura, em solo sem e com cobertura foram de 421,5 e 351,0 mm, respectivamente. As médias diárias de ETc foram de 4,1 mm dia-1 para solo sem cobertura e 3,4 mm dia-1 para solo com cobertura. A cobertura do solo propiciou valores diferentes de Kc's para o milho, nos mesmos estádios, em comparação aos Kc’s do solo descoberto. Para o solo descoberto, os Kc’s observados para os estádios fenológicos I, II, III, e IV, foram de 0,40; 0,84; 1,59 e 0,81, respectivamente. Já para solo com cobertura, os Kc’s pelos mesmos estádios em menção foram 0,28; 0,64; 1,49 e 0,48, respectivamente. A EUAg para solo com cobertura foi 1,77 kg m-3 e para solo sem cobertura foi 1,65 kg m-3. Estes resultados mostram que a cobertura morta no solo influenciou no consumo hídrico do milho durante todo seu ciclo. Palavras-chave: Zea mays. Irrigação. Solo coberto. Consumo hídrico.  MURGA-ORRILLO, H.; ARAÚJO, W. F.; ABANTO-RODRIGUEZ C.; SAKAZAKI, R. T.; BARDALES-LOZANO R. M.; POLO-VARGAS, A. R.MULCH INFLUENCE ON EVAPOTRANSPIRATION, CROP COEFFICIENT AND WATER USE EFFICIENCY OF CORN GROWN IN THE SAVANNAH   2 ABSTRACTIrrigation consumes large amounts of water, and minimizing consumption and maximizing the production are  important to a proper crop management . In order to obtain information for irrigation management, the aim of the present study was to determine evapotranspiration (ETc),  crop coefficient (Kc) and  water use efficiency (WUE) of maize grown in soil with and without cover, during the various stages of development, using drainage lysimeters. The experiment was conducted in Cauamé campus of the Federal University of Roraima, from 19/04/2014 to 08/07/2014, in Boa Vista, RR. The reference evapotranspiration (ETo) was estimated by the Penman-Monteith method. The results of the corn ETc during the crop cycle in soil with and without coverage were 421.5 and 351.0 mm, respectively. The daily average of ETc were 4.1 mm day-1 for bare soil and 3.4 mm day-1 for soil with cover. The ground cover led to different values of Kc's for corn in the same stages as compared to Kc's from the bare ground. For bare soil, the Kc's observed for the phenological stages I, II, III, and IV were 0.40; 0.84; 1.59 and 0.81, respectively. As for covered soil, the Kc's in the same stadiums mentioned were 0.28; 0.64; 1.49 and 0.48, respectively. The WUE to soil with cover was 1.77 kg m-3 and ground without cover was 1.65 kg m-3. These results show that  soil mulching influenceS maize water consumption throughout its cycle. Keywords: Zea mays. Irrigation. Ground covered. Water consumption.

scholarly journals Evapotranspiration, crop coefficient and water use efficiency of coriander grown in tropical environment

2018 ◽  
Vol 36 (4) ◽  
pp. 446-452 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vicente de PR da Silva ◽  
Inajá Francisco de Sousa ◽  
Alexandra L Tavares ◽  
Thieres George F da Silva ◽  
Bernardo B da Silva ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Use Efficiency ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
Growth Parameters ◽  
Crop Coefficient ◽  
Growing Season ◽  
Tropical Environment ◽  
Mean Values ◽  
Use Efficiency

ABSTRACT The water scarcity is expected to intensify in the future and irrigation becomes an essential component of crop production, especially in arid and semiarid regions, where the available water resources are limited. Four field experiments were carried out at tropical environment in Brazil in 2013 and 2014, in order to evaluate the effect of planting date on crop evapotranspiration (ETc), crop coefficient (Kc), growth parameters and water use efficiency (WUE) of coriander (Coriandrum sativum) plants. The planting dates occurred during winter, spring, summer and autumn growing seasons. ETc was obtained through the soil water balance method and the reference evapotranspiration (ETo) through the Penman-Monteith method, using data collected from an automatic weather station located close to the experimental area. The results of the research showed that the mean values of coriander ETc and Kc were 139.8 mm and 0.87, respectively. Coriander water demand is higher in the summer growing season and lower in the winter; however, its yield is higher in the autumn and lower in the winter. Coriander has higher yield and development of its growth variables in the autumn growing season. The results also indicated that the interannual climate variations had significant effects on most growth variables, as yield, ETc and Kc of coriander grown in tropical environment.

scholarly journals A Decoupling Analysis of the Crop Water Footprint Versus Economic Growth in Beijing, China

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kai Huang ◽  
Mengqi Wang ◽  
Zhongren Zhou ◽  
Yajuan Yu ◽  
Yixing Bi
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Water Consumption ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Water Footprint ◽  
Social Economy ◽  
Agricultural Water ◽  
Crop Water ◽  
Entire Study ◽  
Agricultural Water Use

Beijing, the capital of China, is experiencing a serious lack of water, which is becoming a main factor in the restriction of the development of the social economy. Due to the low economic efficiency and high consumption proportion of agricultural water use, the relationship between economic growth and agricultural water use is worth investigating. The “decoupling” index is becoming increasingly popular for identifying the degree of non-synchronous variation between resource consumption and economic growth. However, few studies address the decoupling between the crop water consumption and agricultural economic growth. This paper involves the water footprint (WF) to assess the water consumption in the crop production process. After an evaluation of the crop WF in Beijing, this paper applies the decoupling indicators to examine the occurrence of non-synchronous variation between the agricultural gross domestic product (GDP) and crop WF in Beijing from 1981 to 2013. The results show that the WF of crop production in 2013 reduced by 62.1% compared to that in 1980 — in total, 1.81 × 109 m3. According to the decoupling states, the entire study period is divided into three periods. From 1981 to 2013, the decoupling states represented seventy-five percent of the years from 1981 to 1992 (Period I) with a moderate decoupling degree, more than ninety percent from 1993 to 2003 (Period II) with a very strong decoupling degree and moved from non-decoupling to strong decoupling from 2004 to 2013 (Period III). Adjusting plantation structure, technology innovation and raising awareness of water-saving, may promote the decoupling degree between WF and agricultural GDP in Beijing.

scholarly journals Guidelines for irrigation scheduling of banana crop in São Francisco Valley, Brazil. II - Water consumption, crop coefficient, and physiologycal behavior

2004 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 464-467 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luís Henrique Bassoi ◽  
Antonio Heriberto de Castro Teixeira ◽  
José Moacir Pinheiro Lima Filho ◽  
José Antonio Moura e Silva ◽  
Emanuel Elder Gomes da Silva ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Consumption ◽  
Water Availability ◽  
Crop Coefficient ◽  
Irrigation Scheduling ◽  
Northeastern Brazil ◽  
Evaporative Demand ◽  
Irrigation Water Management ◽  
Growing Seasons ◽  
Daily Water ◽  
Daily Water Consumption

The water consumption and the crop coefficient of the banana cv. Pacovan were estimated in Petrolina County, northeastern Brazil, in order to establish guidelines to irrigation water management. Evaluations were carried out since planting in January 1999 to the 3rd harvest in September 2001 on a microsprinkler irrigated orchard, with plants spaced in a 3 x 3 m grid. Average daily water consumption was 3.9, 4.0, and 3.3 mm in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd growing seasons, respectively. Crop coefficient values increased from 0.7 (vegetative growth) to 1.1 (flowering). Even with high soil water availability, transpiration was reduced due to high evaporative demand.

scholarly journals EVAPOTRANSPIRAÇÃO E COEFICIENTE DE CULTIVO DO FEIJÃO-CAUPI CULTIVADO EM SOLO DO CERRADO SUBMETIDO À COBERTURA MORTA

Irriga ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 172 ◽  
Author(s):  
HIPÓLITO MURGA-ORRILLO ◽  
Wellington Farias Araújo ◽  
Paulo Roberto Ribeiro Rocha ◽  
Roberto Tadashi Sakazaki ◽  
Luiz Fernandes Silva Dionisio ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Use ◽  
Vigna Unguiculata ◽  
Water Consumption ◽  
Developmental Stages ◽  
Crop Coefficient ◽  
Soil Conditions ◽  
Water Parameters ◽  
Mulch Cover ◽  
Drainage Lysimeter

EVAPOTRANSPIRAÇÃO E COEFICIENTE DE CULTIVO DO FEIJÃO-CAUPI CULTIVADO EM SOLO DO CERRADO SUBMETIDO À COBERTURA MORTA  HIPÓLITO MURGA-ORRILLO1; WELLINGTON FARIAS ARAÚJO2; PAULO ROBERTO RIBEIRO ROCHA3; ROBERTO TADASHI SAKAZAKI4; LUIZ FERNANDES SILVA DIONISIO5 E ANA ROSA POLO-VARGAS6  1Engenheiro Agrônomo, Prof. Invitado, Universidad Nacional de Cajamarca, (UNC), Av. Atahualpa Nº 1050- Carretera Cajamarca-Baños del Inca, Cajamarca, Perú. [email protected] Agrônomo, Prof. Dr. Associado da UFRR/CCA, Boa Vista, RR. [email protected] Agrônomo, Prof. Adjunto da UFRR/CCA, Boa Vista, RR. [email protected] Agrônomo, Doutorando na UFRR/CCA, Boa Vista, RR. [email protected] Florestal, Doutorando na UFRA, Belém, PA. [email protected] Agrônomo, Graduada na UNC, Av. Atahualpa Nº 1050- Carretera Cajamarca-Baños del Inca, Cajamarca, Perú. [email protected] 1        RESUMO O conhecimento dos parâmetros hídricos de uma cultura é fundamental para o incremento da produtividade sem o desperdício de água. Objetivou-se com o presente trabalho determinar a evapotranspiração (ETc) e o coeficiente de cultivo (Kc) da cultura de feijão-caupi (Vigna unguiculata L.) cv. Novaera, em condições de solo com e sem o uso de cobertura morta. O experimento foi conduzido no campus Cauamé da Universidade Federal de Roraima, em Boa Vista, RR, entre os meses de abril a julho de 2014. A evapotranspiração de cultivo (ETc) foi obtida por meio de lisímetro de drenagem. Os resultados evidenciaram que a ETc do feijão-caupi para ciclo da cultura sem e com cobertura morta foram de 311,0 e 260,4 mm, com valores médios de 3,5 e 3,0 mm dia-1, respetivamente. O estádio fenológico de maior demanda hídrica foi o reprodutivo atingindo valores de 5,4 mm dia-1 em solo sem cobertura e 4,9 mm dia-1 em solo com cobertura. Os Kc's pelos estádios de desenvolvimento, inicial (I), crescimento (II), reprodutivo (III), e final (IV) pelo método de Penman-Monteith foram equivalentes à 0,42; 0,82; 1,60 e 0,79 em solo sem cobertura morta, e 0,30; 0,73; 1,46 e 0,56 em solo com cobertura morta. Semelhante, o método de Jensen-Haise apresentou valores de 0,38; 0,76; 1,31 e 0,61 em solo sem cobertura morta e 0,29; 0,67; 1,19 e 0,42 em solo com cobertura morta. Palavras-chave: Vigna unguiculata. Otimização de uso de água. Consumo hídrico.  MURGA-ORRILLO, H.; ARAÚJO, W. F.; ROCHA, P. R. R.; SAKAZAKI, R. T.; DIONISIO, L. F. S; POLO-VARGAS, A. R.EVAPOTRANSPIRATION (ETc) AND CROP COEFFICIENT (Kc) OF COWPEA CROP IN SOIL WITH AND WITHOUT MULCH COVER IN THE RORAIMA SAVANNAH  2        ABSTRACT The determination of water parameters of a crop during its development is essential to maintain yield without wasting water. This study aimed to determine evapotranspiration (ETc) and crop coefficient (Kc) of cowpea crop (Vigna unguiculata L.) cv. Novaera during the various stages of development in soil conditions with and without mulch. The experiment was conducted in Cauamé, campus of the Federal University of Roraima, from April to July 2014, Boa Vista, Roraima state. Evapotranspiration cultivation (ETc) was obtained by drainage lysimeter, while the evapotranspiration reference (ETo) was estimated by Penman-Monteith and Jensen-Haise methods. The results determined that water consumption of cowpea in soil conditions with and without mulch were 311.0 and 260.4 mm, respectively. For Kc's developmental stages, initial (I), growth (II), reproductive (III), and final (IV), Penman-Monteith method showed values of 0.42, 0.82, 1.60, and 0.79 in soil without mulch, and 0.30, 0.73, 1.46, and 0.56 in soil with mulch, although the Jensen-Haise method showed values of 0.38, 0.76, 1.31 and 0.61 in soil with mulch and 0.29, 0.67, 1.19, and 0.42 in soil with mulch. Keywords: Vigna unguiculata. Optimization of water use. Water consumption 

Water stress and watertable depth influence yield, water use efficiency, and nitrogen recovery in bell pepper: lysimeter studies

2002 ◽  
Vol 53 (2) ◽  
pp. 201 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Dalla Costa ◽  
G. Gianquinto
Keyword(s):  
Water Stress ◽  
Drought Stress ◽  
Water Supply ◽  
Water Use Efficiency ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Water Consumption ◽  
Fruit Set ◽  
Underground Water ◽  
Marketable Yield ◽  
Use Efficiency

Lysimeters of size 1.5 by 1.5 by 1.5 m, containing a loamy soil, were used to study the effects of both water stress during the reproductive stage and underground water supply on bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.). Continuous water stress treatments were obtained providing irrigation equal to 40%, 50%, 60%, 80%, and 120% of maximum evapotranspiration (ET), evenly applied from flowering to end of the season. Another set of treatments involved a transient drought stress imposed by withholding 80 mm of irrigation, based on ET, beginning at 2 growth stages (early fruit set, or mid fruit growth). A well-watered control (irrigated restoring the entire ET) was included for comparison. The underground water supply treatments involved 3 permanent watertable depths (0.40, 0.70, and 1.10 m below soil surface) and one variable depth increasing from 0.40 to 1.30 m. Continuous water stress significantly reduced total fresh weight of fruit, which was linearly related to the water consumption. The highest marketable yield was found at irrigation of 120% ET; the lowest at 40% ET. Marketable yield did not differ among 60%, 80%, and 100% ET. Withholding water during early fruit set restricted fruit yield significantly, whereas plants undergoing drought later in fruit growth yielded as well as the well-watered control. Total fruit yield with a shallow watertable (0.40 m depth) was comparable to above-ground irrigation restoring 100% ET, but marketable yield was significantly reduced. Highest marketable yield was obtained with watertable at 0.7 m depth, but was reduced by lowering watertable depth. The lower yield observed in water shortage conditions was generally due to a reduced fruit number. In most cases, water use efficiency decreased with increasing water consumption, but was not affected by transient drought stress. Crop nitrogen content was the highest when irrigation provided 100% and 120% ET restoration. It was significantly reduced only by both 40% ET and watertable irrigated treatments. Generally, a shallow watertable allowed less nitrogen rescue than a deeper one. The critical period for water was identified between the beginning of fruit set and first maturing fruits when soil water potential should be maintained above –0.02 MPa.

Irrigation-Water Demand in the Maltese Islands – A Comparative Study between CROPWAT Analysis and In-Situ Monitoring for Ten Horticulture Crops

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 97-112
Author(s):  
Robert Vassallo ◽  
Marco Dimech
Keyword(s):  
Water Use ◽  
Water Consumption ◽  
Water Demand ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
In Situ Monitoring ◽  
Irrigation Demand ◽  
Agriculture Sector ◽  
Maltese Islands ◽  
Demand Models

In Malta, freshwater resources are scarce and their availability and accessibility are likely to be further exacerbated as a result of changing climatic patterns and increased urbanization. The agriculture sector, namely the consequence of irrigation demand, is heavily dependent on freshwater, making use of private boreholes to extract freshwater from underground aquifers. Numerous studies and reports have attempted to quantify and estimate the water use by agriculture. However, there exists a great deal of variability in the reported estimates as well in the models themselves. This paper presents an up-to-date compilation of the current irrigation use models and datasets for the Maltese islands and provides a critical assessment of the main principles behind the methodologies used. In order to understand better the adequacy and suitability of current estimates, a series of field studies were carried out to monitor the irrigation use in ten horticulture crops and compared against evapotranspiration and irrigation demand modelling using CROPWAT analysis. Field studies have indicated that irrigation was applied with care and overall resulted in lower water consumption (44%) when compared to model-generated estimations. Our study indicates that water consumption for crop production on a national scale is significantly lower than previously reported estimates. For the first time, irrigation demand figures have been compiled on a crop-by-crop basis, based on both field data and CROPWAT estimates. This study leads the way for the inclusion of crop-specific parameterisation which can be implemented into future water demand models, thus minimizing the risk of parameter errors and uncertainty for national water-use estimations.

scholarly journals Worldwide water constraints on attainable irrigated production for major crops

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bram Droppers ◽  
Iwan Supit ◽  
Michelle TH van Vliet ◽  
Fulco Ludwig
Keyword(s):  
Water Use ◽  
Water Availability ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Atmospheric Co2 ◽  
Western India ◽  
Model Framework ◽  
Water Requirements ◽  
Groundwater Exploitation ◽  
Sustainable Water Use ◽  
The Impact

<p>Currently, irrigation withdrawals are resulting in groundwater exploitation and unmet ecosystem water requirements. However, to achieve worldwide food security, there is a need to focus on sustainable intensification of crop production. This requires a more sustainable use of water for irrigated croplands. Our presentation focuses on quantifying attainable wheat, maize, rice and soybean production on currently irrigated cropland under sustainable water use. Attainable production accounts for increases in nutrient application, while limiting irrigation withdrawals to renewable water availability and without compromising river ecosystem water requirements.</p><p>Attainable crop production was quantified using a newly developed two-way coupling between the VIC hydrological model (Droppers et al., 2020) and the WOFOST crop model (Wit et al., 2019). This VIC-WOFOST model framework comprehensively simulates biophysical processes related to water availability and crop growth under water and nutrient limitations. Our results indicate that worldwide crop nitrogen uptake should increase by 20%, to achieve production gap closure. However, worldwide irrigation withdrawals should decrease by more than a third in order to ensure sustainable water use. Under these constraints, decreases in attainable irrigated yields of 5% are expected (14% decrease due to water constraints, 9% increase due to increased nutrient availability). Moreover, achievable irrigated crop production in the extensively irrigated croplands of north-eastern China, Pakistan and north-western India would be reduced by up to a third.</p><p>In addition we explored the impact of atmospheric CO2 enrichment on worldwide attainable irrigated production using VIC-WOFOST. Increased atmospheric CO2 concentration increases crop assimilation and decreases crop transpiration. Initial results show that these effects may offset the unsustainable water withdrawals and increase attainable irrigated yields.</p><p><em>References:</em></p><p><em>Droppers, B., Franssen, W. H., Van Vliet, M. T., Nijssen, B., & Ludwig, F. (2020): Simulating human impacts on global water resources using VIC-5. Geoscientific Model Development, 13(10), 5029-5052, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-13-5029-2020</em></p><p><em>de Wit, A., Boogaard, H., Fumagalli, D., Janssen, S., Knapen, R., van Kraalingen, D., ... & van Diepen, K. (2019): 25 years of the WOFOST cropping systems model. Agricultural Systems, 168, 154-167, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agsy.2018.06.018.</em></p>

THE WATER RELATIONS AND IRRIGATION REQUIREMENTS OF COFFEE

2001 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-36 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. K. V. CARR
Keyword(s):  
Water Use ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Sprinkler Irrigation ◽  
Crop Coefficient ◽  
Field Capacity ◽  
Dry Season ◽  
Future Research ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Irrigation Systems ◽  
High Quality Seed

The role of water in the development and yield of the coffee crop (Coffea arabica L.) is reviewed. A period of water stress, induced either by dry soil or dry air, is needed to prepare flower buds for blossoming that is then stimulated by rain or irrigation. Although attempts have been made to quantify the intensity and duration of stress required, these have not yet been specified in ways that are commercially useful. Water must be freely available during the period of rapid fruit expansion to ensure large, high-quality seed yields. Depending on the time and uniformity of flowering this can occur at times when rainfall is unreliable, particularly in equatorial areas.Although there are differences in their responses to drought, commercial cultivars have retained many of the characteristics adapted to the shady environment of the forests in the Ethiopian highlands in which C. arabica is believed to have originated. These include partial closure of the stomata when evaporation rates are high as a result of large leaf-to-air saturation deficits (>1.6 kPa), even if the soil is at field capacity. This is thought to be an adaptive mechanism that minimizes transpiration at high irradiances when the leaves are light-saturated.Our understanding of the actual water use of coffee crops grown in diverse ways is imperfect. For mature crops, well supplied with water, the crop coefficient (Kc) appears to have a value in the range equivalent to 0.7–0.8 times the evaporation from a US Weather Bureau Class A pan. There is some evidence that Kc values are less than this on days when evaporation rates are high (>7 mm d−1). For immature crops allowance has to be made for the proportion of the ground area shaded by the leaf canopy, but this alone may underestimate rates of water use. Present methods of calculating crop water requirements for the purposes of irrigation scheme design and management are imprecise and, probably, subject to large errors depending on local circumstances.The need for irrigation, and its role in controlling the timing of flowering, varies depending on the rainfall distribution, the severity of the dry season, and soil type and depth. Two geographic areas need to be distinguished in particular; those close to the equator with a bi-modal rainfall pattern and those at higher latitudes with a single rainy season and an extended dry season. Despite the international importance of irrigation in coffee crop production, the benefits to be derived from irrigation, in yield and in financial terms, have not been adequately quantified in either location. Allowable soil-water deficits have been specified for deep-rooting crops (2–3 m) on water retentive soils, usually linked to conventional over-tree sprinkler irrigation systems. Other, potentially more efficient, methods of irrigation are now available for coffee grower use, in particular, micro-jet- and drip-irrigation systems. However, there appears to be little advice, based on sound experimental work, on how to design and operate these to best advantage.There is a need to interpret and apply the scientific understanding of the role that water plays in the growth and development of the coffee plant into practical advice that can assist the grower to plan and to use water efficiently, whether rainfall or irrigation, for the production of reliable, high-quality crops. Future research opportunities are identified.

Water Availability--The Connection Between Water Use and Quality

Fact Sheet ◽  
2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert M. Hirsch ◽  
Pixie A. Hamilton ◽  
Timothy L. Miller ◽  
Donna N. Myers
Keyword(s):  
Water Use ◽  
Water Availability
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