Water-Yield Relations for Nonforage Crops

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Abstract
This paper examines the relationship between soil moisture stress, evapotranspiration, and marketable yield of crops–where the yield is a reproductive organ or associated product. It is shown that under conditions of constant stress, yield is reduced as a linear function of stress. However, where stress is applied at different stages in the development of the crop, no simple relationship exists. To predict yield from the water available or from evapotranspiration, the severity of stress and the physiological stage of development must be defined. A disproportionate reduction in yield is induced by water stress during the phases of reproduction. This time corresponds to the period of peak evapotranspiration. Therefore, if irrigation engineers cannot plan their systems for times of peak demand, cost-benefit analyses should reflect probable yield reductions.

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