African Journal of
Agricultural Research

  • Abbreviation: Afr. J. Agric. Res.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1991-637X
  • DOI: 10.5897/AJAR
  • Start Year: 2006
  • Published Articles: 6900

Full Length Research Paper

Sugar cane crop coefficient by the soil water balance method

Gabriel Greco de Guimaraes Cardoso
  • Gabriel Greco de Guimaraes Cardoso
  • Federal Institute of Goias (Instituto Federal Goiano ? IF Goiano), Campus Urutai, Goias GO Brazil
  • Google Scholar
Renato Campos de Oliveira
  • Renato Campos de Oliveira
  • Federal Institute of Goias (Instituto Federal Goiano ? IF Goiano), Campus Rio Verde, Goias GO Brazil
  • Google Scholar
Marconi Batista Teixeira
  • Marconi Batista Teixeira
  • Federal Institute of Goias (Instituto Federal Goiano ? IF Goiano), Campus Rio Verde, Goias GO Brazil
  • Google Scholar
Milton Sergio Dorneles
  • Milton Sergio Dorneles
  • Federal Institute of Goias (Instituto Federal Goiano ? IF Goiano), Campus Urutai, Goias GO Brazil
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Romenig Marcos Oliveira Domingos
  • Romenig Marcos Oliveira Domingos
  • Federal Institute of Goias (Instituto Federal Goiano ? IF Goiano), Campus Urutai, Goias GO Brazil
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Clarice Aparecida Megguer
  • Clarice Aparecida Megguer
  • Federal Institute of Goias (Instituto Federal Goiano ? IF Goiano), Campus Rio Verde, Goias GO Brazil
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  •  Received: 09 April 2015
  •  Accepted: 20 May 2015
  •  Published: 11 June 2015

Abstract

Current assay, conducted on the experimental farm of the Goiás Federal Institute, campus at Urutaí GO Brazil, determines the crop coefficient (Kc) for sugar cane in the Brazilian savannah at several phases of development. Kc was determined by the soil water balance method in a 3.0 m3 suspended drainage lysimeter, measuring 1.0 m in width and height and 3.0 m in length. Reference evapotranspiration (ET0) was determined by Penman-Piche’s equation with data on air evaporating capacity with Piche’s evaporimeter. Crop evapotranspiration (ETc) was performed by the amount of water available at the bottom of the lysimeter. Irrigation occurred when water capacity on the soil reached -100 KPa, by employing drip subsurface irrigation system. Coefficients of sugar cane crop at different phases were 0.31 (initial), 1.15 (crop development), 1.25 (mid-season) and 0.90 (late season). Crop coefficient values were similar to the suggested by FAO-33.

 

Key words: Saccharum officinarum L., drainage lysimeter, drip subsurface irrigation, evapotranspiration of crops.