Irrigation Scheduling Calculator
Determine how many days you can wait between irrigations using crop evapotranspiration and soil available water.
Inputs
How It Works
Irrigation Interval (days) = Available Soil Water ÷ Daily ET
This estimates how long soil moisture will last before irrigation is required.
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FAQ
What is irrigation scheduling?
Irrigation scheduling determines when and how much to irrigate based on crop water use and soil moisture.
What is available soil water?
Available soil water is the amount of water stored in the root zone that plants can access.
Why use ET for scheduling?
ET reflects actual crop water use and provides a reliable basis for irrigation timing.
Understanding Irrigation Scheduling and Crop Water Demand
Proper irrigation scheduling is essential for maximizing crop yield while conserving water resources. Instead of irrigating on a fixed calendar schedule, modern irrigation management relies on evapotranspiration (ET) and soil water availability to determine optimal timing.
Available soil water represents the amount of moisture stored in the crop root zone that plants can extract before experiencing stress. By dividing available soil water by daily crop evapotranspiration, producers can estimate how many days soil moisture will last under current weather conditions.
Using an irrigation scheduling calculator improves water use efficiency, reduces pumping costs, and prevents over- or under-irrigation. When combined with evapotranspiration monitoring and water application depth calculations, irrigation scheduling supports sustainable crop production and long-term water management.