Abstract

Jujube, as a kind of drought-tolerant species with great economic value, is widely grown in Loess Plateau of China. The yield of jujube depends on irrigation, and crop coefficient is the basis for calculating the amount of irrigation. The experimental area was located in Mizhi experimental station in Loess Plateau of China. According to the meteorological data observed by automatic weather station of Mizhi experimental station and using FAO Penman-Montieth equation, we calculated the ET₀ in jujube’s growth period; additionally, combined with ET_c of jujubes under sufficient irrigation, we studied the crop coefficient of jujubes under drip-irrigation. This study determined the crop coefficient in each growing period of jujube, and it established a function relationship between crop coefficients, days after sprouting and LAI. The crop coefficient of jujubes from this study provided a scientific basis for the water management of jujubes under drip-irrigation in Loess Plateau of China.

Key words: Drip-irrigation, jujube, crop coefficients.