Important Factors Affecting the Demand of Water for Crops

Some of the most important factors affecting the demand of water for
crops are as follows:

1. Nature of Crops

2. Nature of Soil

3. Effect of Climatic Factors

4. Effect of Nature of Irrigation

5. Attack of Pests and Diseases.

1. Nature of Crops:
Different nature of crops needs different quantity of water. For example,
more quantity of water is needed for rice and sugarcane, lesser quantity
for bajra and jowar. Duration of crop and stage of growth also
determines the demand of water.

Long duration crops need more water, whereas shorter duration crops
need lesser water. Demand for water also depends on growth time of
plants. For example, in earlier stages, plants need less water whereas
more water is required in their growth period. Structure of plant roots
also affects demand for water. Deeper the roots, the more water they
retain.

2. Nature of Soil:
Water retention capacity depends on composition and compaction of
soil. Crops sown in sandy soils need more water because of more
infiltration rate. Likewise, surface soils need more water as compared to
deeper soils. Soil fertility directly decides necessary quantity of water for
the plants.

In soils having lower fertility, evaporation is also more. Water discharge

in different types of soil also affects its status, in waterlogged soils, plants
utilize lesser water due to lesser evaporation. Thus, in cases of faulty
discharge of water, plants need lesser water.

3. Effect of Climatic Factors:

The particular climate for sowing crops also affects it. Crops sown in
summer, needs more water as compared to crops sown in winter because
there is more evaporation during summer. Similarly, extent of humidity
also affects demand for water.

Demand for water decreases during rains. Winds provide speed to

evaporation. Lesser winds will reduce demand. Duration of the day and
direct or indirect sunrays also affect demand of water.

Higher temperature will increase evaporation resulting in more demand

for water.

4. Effect of Nature of Irrigation:

Irrigation system direct!, affects demand for water. Water leakage in flow
system of drams requires more water. Drop irrigation or spray system
require 60 to 7C per cent less water. Supply system of water from water
source to fields also affects demand for water. Leakage and seepage in
drains cause heavy loss of water. If such drains were constructed pucca,
there would be lesser use of water.

5. Attack of Pests and Diseases:

Various crop diseases also affect the demand for water because growth
does not take place in diseased plants whereas they need regular supply
of water. Quality of irrigation water used in crops, agricultural practices,
and soil preparation methods also affect demand for water. Thus,
admixture of type of agriculture and sources of irrigation directly affect
the demand for water.
The following are the factors which affect on the water requirements of
the crops,

1. Climate
2. Type of Crop
3. Water table
4. Ground Slope
5. Intensity of Irrigation
6. Conveyance Losses
a. Type of soil
b. Subsoil water
c. Age of canal
d. Position of FSL w.r.t to NSL
e. Amount of Silt carried by canal
f. Wetted perimeter
7. Method of Application of water
8. Method of Ploughing
9. Crop Period
10. Base Period
11. Delta of a Crop

i. Influence of Climate
In hot climate the evaporation loss is more and hence the water
requirement will be more and vice versa.

A certain crop grown in a sunny and hot climate needs more water per
day than the same crop grown in a cloudy and cooler climate. There are,
however, apart from sunshine and temperature, other climatic factors
which influence the crop water need. These factors are humidity and
wind speed. When it is dry, the crop water needs are higher than when it
is humid. In windy climates, the crops will use more water than in calm
climates.

The highest crop water needs are thus found in areas which are hot, dry,
windy and sunny. The lowest values are found when it is cool, humid
and cloudy with little or no wind. From the above, it is clear that the crop
grown in different climatic zones will have different water needs. For
example, a certain maize variety grown in a cool climate will need less
water per day than the same maize variety grown in a hotter climate.

Effect of major Climatic Factors on Crop Water Needs

Climatic factor Crop water need

High Low

Sunshine Sunny (no clouds) Cloudy (no sun)

Temperature Hot Cool

Humidity Low (dry) High (humid)

Wind speed Windy Little wind

Climatic zone Mean daily temperature

low (< 15°C) medium (15-25°C) high (> 25°C)

Desert/arid 4-6 7-8 9-10

Semi-arid 4-5 6-7 8-9

For the various field crops it is possible to determine how much water
they need compared to the standard grass. A number of crops need less
water than grass, a number of crops need more water than grass and
other crops need more or less the same amount of water as grass.
Understanding of this relationship is extremely important for the selection
of crops to be grown in a water harvesting scheme.

CROP WATER NEEDS IN PEAK PERIOD OF VARIOUS CROPS

COMPARED TO THE STANDARD GRASS CROP

-30% -10% Same as Standard +10% +20%

Grass

Citrus SquashCrucifers Barley Nuts & fruit trees

 Beans
Lentils

Maize
Groundnuts
Cotton
Melons
Millet
Onions
Olives with cover crop
Safflower
Peppers
Sorghum
Grass
Soybeans
Clean cultivated nuts
Sunflower
& fruit trees
Wheat

ii. Influence of crop type on crop water needs

As different crops require different amount of water for maturity, duties
are also required. The duty would vary inversely as the water
requirement of crop. The influence of the crop type on the crop water
need is important in two ways.

a. The crop type has an influence on the daily water needs of a fully
grown crop; i.e. the peak daily water needs of a fully developed maize
crop will need more water per day than a fully developed crop of onions.

b. The crop type has an influence on the duration of the total growing
season of the crop. There are short duration crops, e.g. peas, with a
duration of the total growing season of 90-100 days and longer duration
crops, e.g. melons, with a duration of the total growing season of 120-
160 days. There are, of course, also perennial crops that are in the field
for many years, such as fruit trees.

While, for example, the daily water need of melons may be less than the
daily water need of beans, the seasonal water need of melons will be
higher than that of beans because the duration of the total growing
season of melons is much longer. Data on the duration of the total
growing season of the various crops grown in an area can best be
obtained locally. These data may be obtained from, for example, the
seed supplier, the Extension Service, the Irrigation Department or
Ministry of Agriculture.

iii. Water Table

If the water table is nearer to the ground surface, the water requirement
will be less & vice versa.

iv. Ground Slope:

If the slope of the ground is steep the water requirement will be more
due to less absorption time for the soil.

v. Intensity of Irrigation:
It is directly related to water requirement, the more the intensity greater
will be the water required for a particular crop.

vi. Conveyance Losses:

Take place from barrage to the field (outlet). So design should be
according to requirement of water plus losses. Major loss of water in an
irrigation channel is due to absorption, seepage or percolation and
evaporation. In earthen channels losses due to seepage are much more
than the losses due to evaporation. The absorption losses depend upon
following:

1. Type of soil
In sandy soil water percolates easily so water required is more. While in
clayey soils water requirement is less.
2. Subsoil water

3. Age of canal

4. Position of FSL with respect to NSL

5. Amount of Silt carried by canal

6. Wetted perimeter

vii. Method of Application of water:

In sprinkler method less water is required as it just moist the soil like
rainwater whereas in flood more water is required.

viii. Method of Ploughing:

In deep ploughing less water is required and vice versa.

ix. Crop Period:

It is the time normally in days that a crop takes from the instance of its
sowing to harvesting.

x. Base Period:
Is the time in days between the first watering and last watering to the
crops before harvesting.
Note: Base Period is normally less than the crop period depending upon
the type of crop.

xi. Delta of a crop:

Total depth of water required by the crop in unit area during base period.
In other words it is the total depth of water required for maturing the
crop.

Volume = Depth x Area.

Now to get the total amount of water for crops (i.e water for Kharif and
Rabi crops) add water for each crop individually as

Q = Volume / Time