Estimation of Water Requirement of Different Field Crops Grown in Tons Pump Canal Command Area of Eastern Uttar Pradesh, India

Abstract

The estimation of water requirements for different field crops was conducted in the Tons Pump Canal Command Area of Eastern Uttar Pradesh, utilizing twenty-five years of meteorological data. The study aimed to determine the reference evapotranspiration (ETo) and crop water requirements for major crops cultivated in the region, including wheat, paddy, barley, millet, pea, potato, sugarcane, mustard, til, Arhar, and gram. The Penman-Monteith equation was employed to calculate ETo, which ranged from 2.27 mm to 6.80 mm per day. The estimated crop water requirements were found to be 53.84 cm for wheat, 16.43 cm for paddy, 32.88 cm for barley, 6.38 cm for pea, 25.39 cm for potato, 70.02 cm for sugarcane, 33.31 cm for mustard, 150.23 cm for til, 38.38 cm for Arhar, 3.57 cm for gram, and 4.98 cm for another crop. Notably, millet required no additional irrigation. These findings provide valuable insights into the water management needs of field crops in the Tons Pump Canal Command Area, assisting in efficient irrigation planning and sustainable water resource utilization. The study underscores the importance of crop-specific water management strategies to optimize agricultural productivity in the region.