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Cauliflower Water Requirement Calculator

Work out the seasonal and per-irrigation water requirement of cauliflower (FAO-56 ETc = ET₀ × Kc, peak Kc 1.05) for your field, climate, soil and irrigation method.

2347 m³
Seasonal water for 1 acre of cauliflower
28.3 m³/day
Peak daily need
4 days
Irrigate every
Season length95 days
Net seasonal ET (crop)522 mm
Gross seasonal (after drip / micro losses)580 mm
Peak crop ET (ETc = ET₀ × Kc)6.3 mm/day (Kc 1.05)
Net depth per irrigation28 mm
Volume per irrigation112 m³

Keep moisture even through curd initiation and development — stress then ruins curd size and quality. Frequent light irrigation suits the shallow roots; drip with mulch is ideal and keeps curds clean.

Sources: FAO-56 Kc for cauliflower (Kc mid 1.05); IIHR cole-crop irrigation; Method: ETc = ET₀ × Kc (FAO-56); efficiency: drip 90%, sprinkler 75%, pivot 80%, surface 60%

Indicative planning figures based on published research averages. Local soil tests, varieties and weather change actual requirements — confirm with your agronomist or extension officer.

Disclaimer: This tool is for general informational and estimation purposes only and is not professional financial, tax, accounting or legal advice. All figures are estimates — verify with a qualified professional before making decisions. Read the full disclaimer.

Farmers and irrigation planners use the free Cauliflower Water Requirement Calculator to turn the FAO-56 crop coefficients for cauliflower into a real seasonal water volume and an irrigation interval for their own field — no agronomy tables, works offline.

About Cauliflower Water Requirement Calculator

Cauliflower needs 350–500 mm of steady moisture; a check during curd formation gives small, ricey, discoloured curds. This calculator uses the FAO-56 method — crop evapotranspiration ETc = ET₀ × Kc — with cauliflower's own crop coefficients (Kc 0.7 initial, 1.05 mid-season, 0.95 late) across a 95-day season. Pick your climate band (which sets reference ET₀), irrigation method (drip, sprinkler, pivot or surface — each with its own efficiency) and soil texture, and it returns the seasonal water need in cubic metres, the peak daily demand, the net depth per irrigation and how many days to wait between irrigations.

How to use Cauliflower Water Requirement Calculator

  1. 1Enter your field area and choose the climate band matching your season.
  2. 2Select your irrigation method and soil texture.
  3. 3Read the seasonal water volume, peak daily demand and irrigation interval, then follow the scheduling note.

Why use Cauliflower Water Requirement Calculator?

  • Uses cauliflower's real FAO-56 Kc curve, not a flat factor
  • Accounts for drip / sprinkler / pivot / surface efficiency
  • Gives seasonal volume, peak daily need and an irrigation interval
  • Free, instant and fully in-browser — works offline in the field

Frequently asked questions

How much water does cauliflower need?+

Cauliflower needs 350–500 mm of steady moisture; a check during curd formation gives small, ricey, discoloured curds. The exact figure depends on climate and season length; this tool sums ET₀ × Kc across the crop's 95-day growth stages for your conditions.

Why are my cauliflower curds small and loose?+

A moisture or nutrient check during curd formation causes small, loose, 'ricey' curds. Even, frequent irrigation through curd initiation and development — never letting the crop wilt — is the main prevention.

How much water does cauliflower need?+

About 350–500 mm over the season, peaking at curd development (Kc ~1.05). The shallow root system needs frequent light irrigation rather than infrequent heavy watering.

What is ET₀ and Kc?+

ET₀ (reference evapotranspiration) is how fast a standard grass surface loses water in your climate. Kc (crop coefficient) scales it to a specific crop and growth stage. Crop water use ETc = ET₀ × Kc — the basis of FAO-56 irrigation scheduling.

Is this calculator free and private?+

Yes — free, no sign-up, and all calculation runs in your browser, so it works offline in the field and your data never leaves the device.

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