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Efficient irrigation is crucial for vegetable production in North Carolina, where weather variability demands careful water management. This publication explains the concept of evapotranspiration (ET)—the combined water loss from soil and plants—and its significance in determining crop water needs. Key topics include the types of ET, the role of the crop coefficient (Kc) in tailoring ET calculations for specific crops and growth stages, and practical steps for using ET and Kc to optimize irrigation. By understanding these principles, farmers can improve water use efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance crop yields while promoting sustainable farming practices.
Monitoring leachate can be a helpful tool to successfully schedule irrigation and avoid the inefficiencies associated with over-irrigation. This publication, a collaboration between several states, describes irrigation scheduling and the factors that affect it, explains the concept of leaching and methods for measuring leaching fraction and how to use that information to schedule irrigation, and illustrates how to manage high salinity in irrigation source water through leaching.
