Water demand of fruit crops using suitable reduction coefficient for Baixo Acaraú irrigated area, located in Ceará.
Fontenele A. J. P. B., Carvalho M. A. R. de, Carvalho L. C. C. de, Monteiro R. N. F., Silva A. O. da, Cordeiro Neto A. T.
Author Affiliation: UFRPE, Rua Dom Manuel Medeiros, s/n, Dois Irmãos, 52171-900 Recife, PE, Brazil.
Revista Brasileira de Agricultura Irrigada 7 : 136-145
Abstract : This work was done with the objective of evaluating the adaptation of the models in estimating a reduction factor (Kr) as well as to establish an appropriate equation for the region of the estimation models as well as to establish a suitable equation for the Baixo Acaraú in the state of Cearà. The data collections were accomplished in three lots inside of the Irrigation Perimeter in March 2010 in micro sprinkler irrigated crops on the following crops: coconut, soursop, orange, mango and sapodilla. 60 measurements were made of canopy diameter, which applied to coverage ratios (Cs), determined the coverage ratio (Kr) through different models proposed in the literature. The experimental design was completely randomized, and it was considered treatment each equation of Kr (five) and repetition every culture (seven). The study showed that there is not significant difference between the equations of determination of Kr when applied to crops in adulthood. The fitted equation to estimate evapotranspiration reduction coefficient (Kr), (Kr=1.1226. Cs +0.0434) showed similar results to those found when using the methodology proposed by Keller & Karmeli. The period of greatest water demand is in the second half of the year, and it should scale irrigation systems based on this period.