Evaluating the Crop Coefficient for Cherries Plants in Michigan State

Abstract

Crop coefficient for cherries was evaluated by measure the water consumption in Michigan State to find its variation with time as the plant growth. Crop coefficients value (Kc) for cherries were predicated by Michigan State University (MSU) and also by Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) according to consume of water through the season. In this paper crop coefficients for cherries are modified accordingly to the actual measurements of soil moisture content. Actual evapotranspiration (consumptive use) were measured by the soil moisture readings using Time Domain Reflectometers (TDR), and compared with the actual potential evapotranspiration that calculated by using modified Penman-Monteith equation which depends on metrological station and by using pan evaporation method. Absolut error techniques show that the predicated crop coefficient by MSU should be modified and changed from 1.0 to 1.20 during June, and from 1.02 during July and August to 1.2 to reduce the crop water stress and give better water management and perfect schedule for irrigation process.