Evaluation of crop coefficients for Rabi Sorghum (Sorghum bicolar monech) in semi-arid climate

Gundekar, H. and Khodke, U. (2007) Evaluation of crop coefficients for Rabi Sorghum (Sorghum bicolar monech) in semi-arid climate. Archives of Agronomy and Soil Science , 53 (6). pp. 605-616.

[img] PDF - Published Version
Restricted to ICRISAT researchers only

Abstract

Planning and strategic management of irrigation water are the key elements for successful crop production. In this study, evaluation of crop coefficients (K C ) on daily and seasonal basis was accomplished for rabi (winter or post rainy) sorghum in semi-arid climatic conditions of India. The crop coefficients for sorghum were developed using lysimetric measured actual crop evapotranspiration (ET C ) and reference evapotranspiration (ET O ) based on the FAO 56 Penman Monteith Method (FP-M). The developed K C values for sorghum during initial, crop development, mid-season, late season stages and at harvest were 0.65, 0.60, 0.50, 0.24, and 0.14, respectively. The results indicated that the actual K C values were considerably different and lower than those suggested by FAO indicating the need for developing these values at the local scale. The measured K C in initial stage was higher than that of empirical K C suggested in FAO 56 whereas K C at development (pre-flowering) stage is in close conformity with that of FAO empirical K C when sufficient moisture was present in the soil. However, the unusual decreasing trend of measured K C from 55 days after sowing of crop at flowering and grain formation stage strongly pointed towards the need of at least two protective irrigations for successful sorghum crop production if grown under rainfed situations.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: Sorghum, semi-arid, lysimeter, crop ET, reference ET, crop coefficient
Author Affiliation: Department of Hydrology, Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee b Water Management, Marathwada Agricultural University, Parbhani, India
Subjects: Atmosperic Science > Climatology
Crop Improvement
Divisions: Sorghum
Depositing User: Mr. SanatKumar Behera
Date Deposited: 25 Mar 2012 05:30
Last Modified: 25 Mar 2012 05:30
Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/03650340701679067
URI: http://eprints.icrisat.ac.in/id/eprint/4124

Actions (login required)

View Item View Item
EPrints Logo
eprints is powered by EPrints 3 which is developed by the School of Electronics and Computer Science at the University of Southampton. More information and software credits.