Citrus Water Requirement Calculator
Work out the seasonal and per-irrigation water requirement of citrus (FAO-56 ETc = ET₀ × Kc, peak Kc 0.85) for your field, climate, soil and irrigation method.
Citrus is sensitive to both drought and waterlogging; double-ring or drip irrigation keeping the trunk dry prevents root and collar rot. A controlled pre-bahar stress synchronises flowering. Avoid wetting the trunk.
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 Citrus Water Requirement Calculator to turn the FAO-56 crop coefficients for citrus into a real seasonal water volume and an irrigation interval for their own field — no agronomy tables, works offline.
About Citrus Water Requirement Calculator
Citrus needs 700–1000 mm a year of fairly steady water, with controlled stress used to time the bahar (flowering flush). This calculator uses the FAO-56 method — crop evapotranspiration ETc = ET₀ × Kc — with citrus's own crop coefficients (Kc 0.6 initial, 0.85 mid-season, 0.75 late) across a 360-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 Citrus Water Requirement Calculator
- 1Enter your field area and choose the climate band matching your season.
- 2Select your irrigation method and soil texture.
- 3Read the seasonal water volume, peak daily demand and irrigation interval, then follow the scheduling note.
Why use Citrus Water Requirement Calculator?
- ✓Uses citrus'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 citrus need?+
Citrus needs 700–1000 mm a year of fairly steady water, with controlled stress used to time the bahar (flowering flush). The exact figure depends on climate and season length; this tool sums ET₀ × Kc across the crop's 360-day growth stages for your conditions.
How much water do citrus trees need?+
About 700–1000 mm a year for bearing trees, fairly evenly through the flushes. Drip or double-ring basin irrigation that keeps the trunk dry is preferred to prevent the collar rot citrus is prone to.
What is bahar treatment and how does irrigation fit?+
Bahar is the practice of withholding water to rest the tree, then irrigating and fertilising to trigger a synchronised flowering flush (ambe/mrig/hasta bahar). Controlled irrigation timing is the main lever for choosing the bahar.
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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