Crop and Irrigation Water Requirement Analysis

 Crop water requirement (CWR) is the water required by the crop for its
survival, growth, development and to produce economic parts.
 The crop water requirement comprises the water lost as evaporation
from the crop field, water transpired and metabolically used by crop
plants, water lost during application which is economically unavoidable
 Actual crop evapotranspiration (ETc) involves the use of a crop factor
called; crop coefficient (Kc) while computing it from reference crop (ETO)

 The crop Evapotranspiration is formulated mathematically as:

ET C  ET O  K C
 Etc = Crop Evapotranspiration
 Eto = Reference Crop Evapotranspiration
 Kc = Crop Coefficient
Crop and Irrigation Water Requirement Analysis

 Crop water requirement (CWR) is the water required by the crop for its
survival, growth, development and to produce economic parts.
 The crop water requirement comprises the water lost as evaporation
from the crop field, water transpired and metabolically used by crop
plants, water lost during application which is economically unavoidable
 Actual crop evapotranspiration (ETc) involves the use of a crop factor
called; crop coefficient (Kc) while computing it from reference crop (ETO)

 The crop Evapotranspiration is formulated mathematically as:

ET C  ET O  K C
 Etc = Crop Evapotranspiration
 Eto = Reference Crop Evapotranspiration
 Kc = Crop Coefficient
 Crop and Irrigation Water Requirement Analysis
 Calculation procedures of crop water requirements:
Reference crop evapotranspiration (ETO):
 Collect and evaluate available climatic and crop data;
 Use representative mean monthly minimum and maximum temperature data
 Compute ETO for each 30-or 10-day using mean climatic data;
 Crop coefficient (kc): Select cropping pattern and determine time of
planting, rate of crop development, length of crop development
stages and growing period. Then select kc for a given crop and stages
of crop development under prevailing climatic conditions;

 Crop evapotranspiration (ETC): Calculate ETC for each 30- or 10- day
period using the formula:


 Illustration for previous slide (crop coefficient)
Select cropping pattern and determine time of planting, rate of crop
development, length of crop development stages and growing period
 Crop and Irrigation Water Requirement
Analysis
Considering the accurateness and the need to standardized the
method, it is recommended herewith to use thePenman-Monteith
Computer Program based Procedures for computing crop water
requirement
Step 1: Select the most representative meteorology center for the
project area or identify climate data source (make sure that the
agro-ecological conditions of the meteorological center or
selected site in other data sources have to be compatible with the
project area agro-ecology and altitude).
Step 2: Make available long-term average climate data including
minimum and maximum temperature, relative humidity, wind
speed and sunshine hours
Meteorology Station Distribution of ETHOIPIA

Illustration for Step 1

Step 3: the data availed in “step 2” should be inserted in climate module/table after
displaying the climate module by clicking Climate/ETo icon on the right side of
CROPWAT 8.0 window
 Crop and Irrigation Water Requirement Analysis

Step 4: Insert the rainfall, soils and crop data in respective

modules to run the irrigation and crop water requirement
calculation.

Step 5: The CROPWAT 8.0 software will calculate the crop water
requirement and scheme irrigation requirement and irrigation
schedule for the proposed crops.
Rainfall pattern module (step 3)
Rainfall pattern module (step 3)
Crop data Module (step 3)
Soil Data Module (Step 3)
Step 4: CWR, IR IS to be computed
Example demonstration for ETo
computation
 Example demonstration of ETo computation for
Bereda Lencha SSIP
 Location: Oromiya National regional State, East Haraghe zone, Gola Oda Wereda,
Bereda Lench kebele. Geographical location: The project is located at 8.73
latitude; 41.71 longitudes and altitude: 1300 m.a.s.l.
 Representative meteorological station: Burka meteorological station, which is
located near to the site and has lowland agro-ecology
 ETo The Evapotranspiration can be calculated in two ways based on the
availability of climate data.
 Option 1: the Evapotranspiration calculated by feeding all the above-indicated
data including Temperature, Humidity, Wind speed and Sunshine hours as
demonstrated in figure below:
 Option 2: If the meteorological station has only temperature data the
CROPWAT 8.0 software can estimate other data such as humidity, wind
speed, sunshine hours and radiation.
Figure 7‑1: CROPWAT 8.0 window and climate
module for ETo estimation

2. Enter available data

Click “climate” icon & insert data

Highlighted values are calculated

Figure 7‑2: Evapotranspiration estimation from temperature
data (Bereda lencha SSIP)

Step2: make active the 1st cell in

Step 1: Insert Temp data each column: & click “Estmate” Step 3: Click “Estimate”
 Crop and Irrigation Water Requirement
Analysis
 EFFECTIVE RAINFALL DETERMINATION
 mathematically the effective rainfall is expressed as the difference between
the total rainfall and that portions of rainfall, which are lost through surface
runoff, evaporation and deep percolation (Pe = P – R – ET – DP)
 Methods for estimation of effective rainfall by CropWat 8.0 software:
1. Fixed percentage:
Effective rainfall is a fixed percentage of actual rainfall, being calculated ac­cord­
ing to:

The fixed percentage is to be given by the user to account for the losses,
due to runoff and deep percolation.
For most rainfall values below 100 mm/month, the efficiency will be
approximately 80%. it is suggested to select the Option “fixed percentage” and
give 80% as requested value,
 Crop and Irrigation Water Requirement
Analysis
 Dependable
2.   rainfall (FAO/AGLW formula)
 This formula may be used for design purposes where 80% pro­bability of
exceedanceis required. The effective rainfall can be calculated using the
following formula
 Monthly Effective rainfall:  
 th
 m/month
 Decadal Effective rainfall:  

3. USDA Soil Conservation Service:

Formula developed by USCS, where effective rainfall can be calculated using
the following formulae:  
Monthly step: 
 for P month <= 250 mm
 Procedures to calculate the effective rainfall with CROPWAT
8.0 software
Step 1: Open the CROPWAT
window and click the Rainfall
module
Step 2: choose and click on
one of the five calculation
options
Step 3: Insert the monthly
actual rainfall data obtained
from Climate data source
manually
Step 4: instantly the software
calculate the effective rainfall
Step 5: save in save as mode or
copy the “table with headers”
by using right click button and
paste on Excel format.
Example 1 Effective rainfall calculation for Bereda Lencha SSI
Project:
 REQUIRED CROP DATA FOR CROP WATER REQUIREMENT
ESTIMATION
 After calculating the ETo, the next step is to enter the crop data into
CROPWAT to enable the program to calculate the crop water
requirements for proposed crops. Please, follow the steps to manage
the crop data entry.
 Require data
1. Planting and harvesting date
 Source of data: the agronomist can refer the planting date from the
cropping calendar determined in previous section “cropping pattern” or
cropping calendar tables.
 The agronomist is required to set and enter the planting date for each
proposed crop and take a note for each crop to transfer the data in
cropping pattern module later
2. Crop coefficient (Kc):
The Kc coefficient incorporates crop characteristics and averaged effects of
evaporation from the soil.
 REQUIRED CROP DATA FOR CROP WATER REQUIREMENT
ESTIMATION

There is usually close similarity in the coefficients among the members of the
same crop group, as the plant height, leaf area, ground coverage and water
management are normally similar (FAO ID Paper 56).
Source:
from research institution where the Kc determination research has been
undertaken
Refer Kc values in Agronomy guideline Appendix XII and Appendix XIII
3. Length of growth stages
It can be retrieved from the Crop Wat program while opening the “crop file”
from Crop-FAO folder
the length of growing period retrieved by default is not compatible to the crop
varieties usually grown in different agro-ecologies and released varieties ha
should be adjusted
 CROPWAT 8.0 Windows and Crop Module

Table 7‑1: Example: Adjustment for length of growing stage for maize BH 540 variety
Crop Module data entry procedures
 CROPWAT 8.0 Windows and Crop Module

1. Crop rooting depth

 The module of the CROPWAT 8.0 software provides the rooting depth data as default
 The agronomist can also refer the root depth from Appendix XIV attached in this
guideline
1. Allowable soil moisture depletion levels
 Allowable soil moisture depletion (P) values are considered in crop water
requirement that varies by crop types. Expressed in fraction of Total Available
Water
 The P value as other values is available from Appendix XIV of agronomy guideline.
 P values are displayed with other crop data on CropWat 8 crop module and
possible to adjust as required.
1. Yield response factors (Ky).
Ky is a factor to estimate yield reductions due to water stress, the Ky value
can be referred from FAO ID 33 or use the default figures in CropWat
program.
 CROPWAT 8.0 Windows and Crop Module
Note: While running the crop module of the CropWat 8 the agronomist should
 give considerable attention and checking data appropriateness of the
figures inserted for sowing date and length of growing stage distribution.
 After the completion of the data entry the information of each crop
should be saved.
 The print format of the crop data can be retrieved or copied by clicking the
print icon and save the ASCII file in……
 Make available the crop in crop module Click print select ASCII file
click preview icon and save where you need
DRY CROP DATA

(File: C:\Program Data\CROPWAT\data\crops\Petu SSIP\Haricot-dry.CRO)

Crop Name: Haricot bean dry Planting date: 20/12 Harvest: 08/04

Stage Initial develop mid late total

Length 20 30 40 20 110
Kc values 0.40 → 1.15 0.35
Rooting depth (m) 0.30 → 0.90 0.90
Critical depletion 0.45 → 0.45 0.60
Yield response f 0.20 0.60 1.00 0.20 1.15
Crop height (m) 0.40

Cropwat 8.0 Beta 20/12/16 12:10:03 PM

 SOIL Module

The soil module is selected by clicking on the “Soil” icon in the module bar located
on the left of the main CROPWAT window
Data in soil Module of CROWAT 8.0:

Total Available Water: It is the difference in water content of soil water content at
field capacity and soil water content at wilting in root zone, and it should be
expressed in mm/m for crop program computation.
Maximum infiltration rate: It is an important soil physical characteristic determining
the water holding capacity of the soils. The data also should be sourced from the
project area soil analysis results or use the default data the module
Maximum rooting depth: Maximum rooting depth in most cases be determined by
the genetic characteristics of the plant. It can be referred from Appendix XIV for
different irrigable crops
Initial soil moisture depletion: It indicates the dryness of the soil at the start of the
irrigation. This expressed as a depletion percentage from total available moisture.
It is Recommended to use 50% initial soil moisture depletion
 SOIL Module

Figure 1‑9: Soil data entry process in CropWat 8.0 software

2. click “ open
icon”
3. Select & click soil
type /optional/
1.Soil
module

Or you can fill the local conditions data

/Recommendable/
 CROPPING PATTERN INPUT FOR CROP AND IRRIGATION
WATER REQUIREMENTS

 It needs to be completed after processing the individual crop water requirement

determination
 The user has to be aware that cropping pattern module will reject data entry when
the total land area with spatial distribution become more than 200%, this indicate
that at that particular date the land which you planned to cultivate is not free to
accommodate additional crop
 To run the cropping pattern module in CropWat window follow these steps:
 Click the cropping pattern icon at the left side of the CropWat window and display the
cropping pattern module (step 1 Fig 7-10)
 Give file name for cropping pattern file (use the name of the project)
 Retrieve the crop data from saved crop date file (step 2 Fig 7-10)
 Insert the planting data of activated crop (make sure this data should be similar with the
data given in crop data file) better to have notes on planting dates of all crops. While you
enter planting data the module will give the harvesting data based on the previous LGP
data (step 3 Fig 7-10)
 Enter the cropping pattern data and make sure the caution in above paragraph
 Save the data with project name
 Figure 1‑9: Soil data entry process in CropWat 8.0 software
CROPPING PATTERN INPUT FOR CROP AND IRRIGATION
WATER REQUIREMENTS
 Insert the planting data of activated crop (make sure this data should be
similar with the data given in crop data file) better to have notes on
planting dates of all crops. While you enter planting data the module will
give the harvesting data based on the previous LGP data (step 3 Fig 7-10)
 Enter the cropping pattern data and make sure the caution in above
paragraph
 Save the data with project name

2. Retrieve
crop file

3. Fill planting
data & Area
%file
1. Click CP
 CALCULATING NET IRRIGATION REQUIREMENTS
   Net irrigation water requirement is the quantity of water necessary for crop
growth. It depends on the cropping pattern and the climate.
 The net irrigation requirement is calculated as follows:

NIR = Net irrigation requirement

Wb = Soil moisture at the beginning of the growing period
Ge = Recharge water from the nearby ground reserve
In most cases, Wb and Ge are neglected and
NIR will be =
1. CropWat8.0 software based calculation of Net Irrigation Requirement
 Based on the available climate and crop data the scheme module of the
CropWat program will calculate the following outputs:
 Irrigation requirement of all crops by months
 Net irrigation requirement in mm/day, mm/month, and l/s/h
 Irrigated land area coverage in %
 Irrigation requirement for actual area in l/s/h
 CALCULATING NET IRRIGATION REQUIREMENTS
Figure 1‑11: Monthly crop water and Net irrigation requirements outputs

Further the agronomists will determine the gross water requirement of the scheme
considering the project irrigation efficiency and net irrigation requirement.
 DETERMINATION OF IRRIGATION EFFICIENCY
   Setting the irrigation efficiency
Irrigation efficiency is determined by
 irrigation system management,
 water distribution characteristics,
 crop water use rate, weather and soil conditions.
The amount of loss depends on the efficiency of the irrigation system.
There are three basic irrigation efficiency concepts.

  

)
 the agronomist and the engineers should jointly set the
conveyance, distribution and field efficiencies
DETERMINATION OF IRRIGATION EFFICIENCY

 Example for DETERMINATION OF IRRIGATION EFFICIENCY

 Example for project efficiency: Based on Yem SSIP database

located in SNNPR, Bench Maji zone in Bachuma wereda (the
conveyance and distribution structures are lined with furrow
irrigation application method)
Given:
Conveyance efficiency Ec = 95%;
Distribution efficiency Ed = 85% and
Field application efficiency Ea = 60%
Project efficiency refer (equation 10.9.2 a)
= 0.95 x 0.85 x 0.60
= 0.48 or 48%
 GROSS IRRIGATION WATER REQUIREMENT

 It  is the net irrigation requirement plus water distribution and


application losses in the irrigation system
The losses generally depend upon lined network or unlined network, the
surface area and the ground percolation
 The gross irrigation requirement is computed based on the net irrigation
requirements and proposed project and field application efficiency
depends on the purpose of the computation.
 If the focus of the analysis is to get the gross requirement at project level
then the formula will be:

 If the gross irrigation requirement at field level is required then the field
application efficiency will be considered for computation:

 This formula mainly applied at operation and implementation level to

compute various parameters at field level.
 Example for DETERMINATION OF IRRIGATION EFFICIENCY

 Example for project efficiency: Based on Yem SSIP database

located in SNNPR, Bench Maji zone in Bachuma wereda (the
conveyance and distribution structures are lined with furrow
irrigation application method)
Given:
Conveyance efficiency Ec = 95%;
Distribution efficiency Ed = 85% and
Field application efficiency Ea = 60%
Project efficiency refer (equation 10.9.2 a)
= 0.95 x 0.85 x 0.60
= 0.48 or 48%
 Example for DETERMINATION OF GROSS IRR REQUIREMET
Precipitation deficit Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
1. BANANA 1st year 88.9 85.7 54 0.8 0 0 0 0 0 2.7 30.7 68
2. Barley 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1.8 0 0
3. CABBAGE 92.6 86.4 2.4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 19.9 61.3
4. Coffee 73.9 68.5 36.1 0.8 0 2.3 0 0 0 7.4 35 63.1
5. Haricot bean 0 0 0 0 1.4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
6. MAIZE (dry season) 105.5 101.4 37.7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 39
7. MAIZE (wet season) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
8. MANGO 88.6 81 43.8 1.8 0 0 0 0 0 14.8 48.1 76.9
9. Onion 110.4 82.5 4.9 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.8 78
10. Tomato 96.3 99.1 58 2.8 0 0 0 0 0 0 8.5 48.6
Net scheme irr.req.

in mm/day 3 3.1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.1 0.6 2

in mm/month 94.2 86.7 30.8 0.8 0.2 0.3 0 0 0 3.2 19.1 61
in l/s/h 0.35 0.36 0.11 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.01 0.07 0.23
Irrigated actual area % 100 100 100 50 12 15 0 0 0 55 85 100
Irr.req. for actual area in l/s/h 0.35 0.36 0.11 0.01 0.01 0.01 0 0 0 0.02 0.09 0.23
Pro. efficiency (Ep) 0.48 0.48 0.48 0.48 0.48 0.48 0.48 0.48 0.48 0.48 0.48 0.48
GIR (irr act % / Ep) for 24hr 0.73 0.75 0.23 0.02 0.02 0.02 0 0 0 0.04 0.19 0.48
 Example for empirical formula DETERMINATION OF NIR AND
GIR
Crop Formula Jan Feb Mar April May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Maize
ETc of maize
1 175 195 134 138 75 180
(mm/month) 1
Rainfall
2 13.6 7.7 47.2 92.2 91.5 56.6 91.9 112.3 98.5 59 23.1 13.4
mm/month
Peff = Pmonth *
(125 - 0.2 *
Pmonth) / 125
Effective for Pmonth≤250
3 rainfall mm 13.3 7.6 43.6 78.6 78.1 51.5 78.4 92.1 83.0 53.4 22.2 13.1
mm/month
Peff = 125 + 0.1 *
Pmonth for Pmonth
> 250 mm
Net Irr req NIR = ETc - Peff
4 161.7 187.4 90.4 59.4 52.8 166.9
mm/month (Row 1-3)
Project
5 0.48 0.48 0.48 0.48 0.48 0.48
efficiency (Ep)
Gross Irr Req NIR/Ep
6 336.9 390.4 188.3 123.8 109.9 347.7
mm/month
Discharge q
7 1.30 1.51 0.73 0.48 0.42 1.34
(l/s/ha) 10*GIR/(30*24*3.6)
for 12 hrs irr
2.60 3.01 1.45 0.95 0.85 2.68
hours 10*GIR/(30*12*3.6)
Thank You