ISHS Acta Horticulturae 278: Symposium on Scheduling of Irrigation for Vegetable Crops under Field Condition
EVALUATION OF CLIMATIC RISK FOR IRRIGATION PLANNING |
| Authors: | A.M. Pandolfi, M. Pitzalis, M. Nardi, M.C. Lorenzetti |
| Abstract:
The aim of this paper is to indicate an adequate method, based on climatic risk forecasts, to plant crop calendars in relation to hydric and thermal conditions on a territorial and/or farm scale. Often it is not possible to obtain current meteorological data, important for irrigation management. However, time series of thermic and pluviometric data are available. From this data, the probable crop water requirements and risks of water deficit, very important parameters for projecting irrigation systems in crop planning and in irrigation scheduling, could be calculated. The method is based on climatic forecasting of water deficit (ETc-P) during the development cycle of early processing tomato varieties in relation to planting date. This method has been applied in five locations in Apulia with traditional cultivation of tomato. Two planting dates have been hypothesized: one, usually in the third week of April, and the other, earlier. The earliest possible planting date, based on the probability of favourable temperatures occurs in March (third week). In this case thermic conditions delay the rate of crop development particularly in the initial stages. Thus, a longer cycle corresponds to a higher level of ETc. Therefore, in the studied area, earlier sowing does not reduce the total ETc of the tomato crop. Nevertheless, this procedure could be effective in different environmental conditions. | |
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