Introducing weekly crop water use reports for irrigation scheduling
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EmailWeekly crop water use recommendations offer irrigators scientifically based guidance on how much irrigation water to apply when rainfall is insufficient.
Water plays an important role in crop development, yet achieving optimal yields requires precise irrigation management. Over-irrigation not only increases costs but also leads to nitrogen leaching, potentially diminishing yields and affecting groundwater quality. Conversely, under-irrigation increases water stress, reducing crop productivity.
Understanding the water needs of crops is essential for maximizing agricultural productivity while conserving water resources. To assist irrigators in making informed decisions, Michigan State University Extension is pleased to introduce the weekly crop water use reports.
Each week, these reports provide estimated crop evapotranspiration values. These values are calculated using reference evapotranspiration and crop-specific coefficients for various growth stages using the FAO-56 single crop coefficient approach. Currently available for three locations in Michigan, these reports offer irrigators insights into their crops' water consumption, helping them determine optimal irrigation timing and amounts.
It's important to note that the crop water use values presented in the reports assume that applied water is utilized by the plants without loss. Irrigators should consider local weather forecasts and any recent precipitation when using these values for irrigation scheduling.
Interested readers can access the weekly crop water use reports through the Crop Water Use page on the Michigan State University (MSU) Extension Irrigation website, where all weekly updates are posted.
The reference evapotranspiration data used in these calculations is sourced from MSU Enviroweather, which also provides a model for estimating potential crop evapotranspiration. Irrigators can access this tool by selecting their crop, nearest weather station and relevant date.
For additional tools and information on irrigation scheduling, please refer to: Irrigation Scheduling Tools.
For more information about irrigation, resources are available on the MSU Extension Irrigation website.
By utilizing the weekly crop water use reports and associated tools, irrigators can make informed decisions that optimize water use efficiency.
