Evapotranspiration Crop Coefficients of Vegetable Crops for a Hot and Arid Climate PDF

Keywords

alfalfa, crop coefficients, weather conditions

Abstract

Crop coefficients, with reference to alfalfa, were determined for four vegetable crops which could be used in estimating water requirements under the hot and arid conditions of Saudi Arabia. The vegetable crops and alfalfa were grown in lysimeters and the evapotranspiration (ET) was measured. Crop coefficients were obtained from the data. Coefficients, with respect to evaporation from class A pan and Piche evaporimeter were also obtained, which could be used by farmers and irrigationist to estimate water requirements. The crop coefficients varied at various stages of growth, and hence a single crop coefficient value is not suitable for ET estimation of the crop cycle. The coefficients differed from those obtained by research scientists at other places, under different environmental conditions, suggesting that the coefficients given here are more suitable for ET estimation, under the hot and arid climate of Saudi Arabia.