Estimation of Crop Water Requirement and Determination of Irrigation Schedule for Tomato Crop by using CROPWAT 8.0 Model

Abstract

A study was conducted to estimate the crop water requirement and also to determine the irrigation schedule of tomato crop using CROPWAT 8.0 model at College of Agricultural Engineering Madakasira, Andhra Pradesh. The experiment was carried out under two methods of irrigation scheduling (Traditional furrow irrigation method and CROPWAT irrigation scheduling method). The total volume of water applied to the crop under traditional furrow irrigation method and CROPWAT irrigation scheduling method was 73.188 m3 and 47.0611 m3 respectively. Hence 35.69% of water saved in CROPWAT irrigation scheduling method. It was observed that the yield of the tomato crop in CROPWAT irrigation scheduling method was 36.8% more than the traditional furrow irrigation method. The crop water use efficiency in CROPWAT irrigation method was 58.36% more than the traditional furrow irrigation method. Thus, the study concluded that it is capable for strategic planning on irrigation management and scheduling in the view of water saving technology.