How to use the Irrigation Calculator

This calculator uses the monthly water budget method of irrigation scheduling. It relies on historical information of local monthly evapotranspiration of a reference crop (grass or alfalfa). This information is commonly available from Ministry of Agriculture or Extension offices. For British Columbia this information is available at the Farmwest web site.

The following is a brief description of the irrigation calculator.

Identification Information

This information identifies your company, your client, the irrigation zone, and the calendar month for which this schedule was developed.

Reference Evapotranspiration

The evapotranspiration of the reference crop. This will be stated in your Ministry of Agriculture source information.

Landscape Information

Information about the vegetation in this irrigation zone. The terminology used in the "Planting Type" pull down menu refers to ornamental plants, but is easily transferable to agricultural crops.

It is not necessary that you submit your information at this point. If you do the calculator provides you with the monthly evapotranspiration from your landscape. This information is primarily useful for irrigation system designers.

Soil Information

The appropriate information for the soil in this irrigation zone. The higher the allowable water deficit %, the more the soil is allowed to dry out between irrigations.
It is not necessary that you submit your information at this point. If you do the calculator provides you with the infiltration rate of your soil, the amount of water available in the root zone of your vegetation, and the amount of irrigation required.

Irrigation equipment

Select the equipment and whether watering restrictions apply. Then submit the information.

A new screen will ask for information about the watering restrictions and the irrigation system.

When you submit this information the calculator provides you with your irrigation schedule.


   
 

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Dec 3, 2023, 7:37 pm,EST