Evapotranspiration and Responses to Irrigation of Headed Broccoli under Indian Hot and Sub-Humid Climatic Condition

Crops grown under irrigation rather than the monsoon season in India is not an easy farming practice, because of water scarcity under changing climate and market limitations. The present experiment was designed and executed to measure the water use (evapotranspiration) of heading broccoli under furrow irrigation and different water saving techniques. In general, consumptive water use reached a maximum of 118 mm and a minimum of 55 mm for the period of 70 days after transplanting. Single crop coefficient (K_c values were recorded higher than calculated FAO-K_c values during initial, mid and end stages. The response of given irrigation water through flood irrigation method (four treatments, from 25 to 100% of ET_C) to the yield of broccoli, formed a production function that gave the highest yields (near 15 t ha^-1) at an irrigation level of 118 mm, and a 12.61 kg m^-3 water use efficiency. Broccoli cultivation during the winter season is an economically feasible alternative for diversification of crops around the year at a time where irrigation water demand for other crops is maximum.