Water use by irrigated Arabica coffee in Kenya

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Abstract
The methods proposed by Pereira for unirrigated coffee have been followed in a study of water use by this crop for the 12 years 1950–62. Soil sampling has shown that the procedure provides a reliable measure of evapotranspiration from unirrigated coffee.A modification is proposed which has enabled the rate of water use by irrigated coffee to be followed satisfactorily for the 5 years 1957–62. Occasional soil sampling showed that the modified procedure provided an estimate of the soil moisture status sufficiently reliable and accurate for the regulation of irrigation timing and amount.Irrigation to maintain a favourable soil moisture status has had a marked and beneficial effect on the production of Grade ‘A’ coffee in dry years.The mean daily rate of evapotranspiration from irrigated coffee is estimated to range from 0·15 in. in hot weather to half this rate during the cool and cloudy season.The maximum computed annual totals of supplementary irrigation which were required over a 12-year period ranged from 5·5 in. to 31·5 in. with a mean value of 16·0 in. per year.

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