by the numbers in Table 8, and rounding up the result to the nearest whole
number. Splitting irrigation reduces risks of water loss through deep percolation
and nutrient leaching. Sandy soil with the available water-holding
capacity of 0.75 in/ft was assumed in these calculations. If a soil contains
more clay or organic matter, the amount of water applied during one irrigation
event and stored in the root zone can be increased. It is recommended
to check the depth of wetting after irrigation to assure that the water is not
observing the wetted pattern.
Drip irrigated
tomatoes
Drip irrigated
strawberries
1 2 3 4 5 6
Month of growth
Crop coefficient
1.2
1.0
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0.0
Figure 4.
Example
As an example, consider drip-irrigated tomatoes on 6-ft center beds,
grown under a plastic mulch production system in the Central West area
7). If this period of growth occurred in May, the corresponding ETo value is
4,887 gal/ac/day (Table 4). Daily crop water use would be estimated as:
ETcrop = (0.85) x (4,887 gal/ac/day) = 4,153 gal/ac/day
If the drip irrigation system can apply water to the root zone of the crop
Irrigation Requirement = (4,153 gal/ac/day) / (0.80) = 5,192 gal/ac/day
If the maximum water application in one irrigation event for this type of
soil is 1,700 gal/ac/irrigation, then the irrigation will have to be split:
Number of events = (5,292 gal/ac/day) /
(1,700 gal/acre/day/irrigation event) = 3.1,
rounded up to 4 irrigation events each of
5,292 / 4 = 1,323 gal/acre
Therefore, in this example, four irrigations of 1,323 gal/ac each will be
needed to replace ETc, without exceeding the soil water holding capacity.
This amount of water would be a good estimate for scheduling purposes
moisture plant status also should be monitored to determine if irrigation
fruit size and plant growth, excessive irrigation may leach nutrients from the
active root system. This may also reduce plant growth and yield.
Table 3.5. Description of growth stages (plant appearance and estimated number of weeks) for most vegetable crops grown in the Spring in Florida1. (continued)
Crop Stage 1 Stage 2 Stage 3 Stage 4 Stage 5
Expected growing
season (weeks)
Bean Small plants
2-3
Growing plants
3-4
Pod enlargement 2-3 Pod maturation
2-3
9-10
Chinese cabbage
Small plants
2-3
Growing plants
5-6
Head development
3-4
10-12
Cantaloupe
(muskmelon)
6-in vine
1-2
12-in vine
3-4
3-4
Main fruit production
2-3
Late fruit production
2-3
11-12
Carrot Small plants
1-2
Growing plants
3-4
Root development
5-7
Final growth
1-2
10-13
Cucumber 6-in vine
1-2
12-in vine
2-3
Fruit production
6-7
Late season
1-2
10-12
Eggplant Small plants
2-3
Growing plants
2-3
Fruit production
6-7
Late season
2-3
12-13
Potato Small plants (after
hilling)
2-4
Large plants
(vegetative growth)
4-6
and bulking)
3-5
Maturation (top dies)
2-4
12-14
Okra Small plants
2-3
Growing plants
2-3
Pod production
7-8
Late season
1-2
12-13
Onion Small plants
2-4
Growing plants
4-5
Bulb development
6-8
Maturation (top falls)
1-2
13-16
Pepper Small plants
2-3
Growing plants
2-3
Pod production
7-8
Last bloom
1-2
Last harvest
1
13-15
Pumpkin
(bush)
Small plants
2-3
2-3
Fruit enlargement
5-6
Harvest
1-2
9-11
Pumpkin (vining) 6-in vines
2-3
12-in vines
2-3
Small fruit
3-4
Large fruit
2-3
Harvest 1-2 13-15
Radish Small plants
1-2
Rapid growth
2-4
3-5
16 2019 Vegetable Production Handbook of Florida