Water Conservation
Help make conservation a California way of life
Image
saving water header
Page Title
Drought/Saving Water
Back to top

Crop Water Requirements

Content

By understanding estimated crop water requirements, the agricultural industry can maximize water use through efficient irrigation methods and scheduling.

Find the estimated cumulative irrigation requirements for several crops of importance in the Llagas Valley, as well as crop-specific details. 

Alfalfa

Alfalfa

The cumulative water requirement for alfalfa in 2010 was 36 ¼  inches. This estimate is of cumulative water use and takes cuttings into account. Winter rainfall stored in the soil profile must be subtracted to arrive at the cumulative irrigation requirement. This estimate does not take into account the sprinkler system uniformity.

View additional details about alfalfa (PDF).

Celery

Celery

The cumulative irrigation requirement for celery in 2010 was 20 ¼ inches. This estimate does not take into account deficiencies in irrigation system distribution uniformity.

View additional details about celery (PDF).

Cherries

Cherries

The cumulative water requirement for cherries in 2010 was 38 ½ inches. This estimate is of cumulative water use for a fully irrigated orchard, and does not take management actions such as deficit irrigation for growth management into account. Winter rainfall stored in the soil profile must be subtracted to arrive at the cumulative irrigation requirement. This estimate does not take into account sprinkler system uniformity.

View additional details about cherries (PDF).

Corn

Corn

The estimated irrigation requirement for sweet corn planted in mid-April, 2010, is 27 ⅓ inches. This estimate does not take into account extra water required by deficiencies in irrigation uniformity.

View additional details about corn (PDF).

Dry Beans

Stone Fruit

Stone Fruit

The cumulative water requirement for stone fruit in 2010 was 38 inches. This estimate is of cumulative water use for a fully irrigated orchard and does not take management actions such as deficit irrigation for growth management into account. Winter rainfall stored in the soil profile must be subtracted to arrive at the cumulative irrigation requirement. This estimate does not take into account irrigation system distribution uniformity.

View additional details about stone fruit (PDF).

Tomatoes

Tomatoes

The estimated cumulative irrigation requirement for bush tomatoes in 2010 was 24 ⅓ inches. This estimate does not take into account deficiencies in irrigation system distribution uniformity. “Dry farmed” tomatoes would use significantly less water.

View additional details about tomatoes (PDF).

Walnuts

Walnuts

The estimated cumulative water requirement of walnuts in 2010 was 33 ⅛ inches. This estimate does not take stored winter rainfall or deficiencies in irrigation system into account.

View additional details about walnuts (PDF).

Wine Grapes

Wine Grapes

The estimated cumulative water requirement for vertically shoot-positioned wine grapes on an 8-foot row spacing in 2010 was 13 ¼ inches. This estimate does not take stored winter rainfall into account. Nor are management applied deficits or deficiencies in irrigation system uniformity taken into account.

View additional details about wine grapes (PDF).

Additional information

Find additional resources: