Crop-coefficients of tomato as derived using monolithic weighing type lysimeter in mid hill region of Meghalaya

Abstract

Crop coefficients (kc) was determined for tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) with the help of UMS-GmBH cylindrical field lysimeter of 30 cm diameter and 120 cm deep and Penman-Monteith FAO-56 model. Eight other models viz. Modified Penman Method, Hargreaves equation, Samani-Hargreaves equation, Thornthwaite equation, Solar Radiation Method, Net Radiation Method, Blaney-Criddle Method and Radiation Method were also used for estimation of ET0­ and compared with Penman-Monteith model to find out the accuracy of prediction with limited weather parameters. Scatter plot and paired t-test were used for comparison. Out of all these models, Blaney-Criddle method, Solar and Net Radiation method were found to yield similar results as given by Penman-Monteith model. The values of crop evapo-transpiration (ETc) were varying from 2.54 mm d-1 to 6.70 mm d-1. The crop-coefficients (kc) for three growth stages of tomato viz., initial, mid and maturity were found to be 0.55, 1.07 and 0.78, respectively.