Fodder maize Water Requirement Calculator
Work out the seasonal and per-irrigation water requirement of fodder maize (FAO-56 ETc = ET₀ × Kc, peak Kc 1.15) for your field, climate, soil and irrigation method.
Keep moisture steady through the rapid vegetative phase — that builds the green tonnage. Harvested at dough stage, fodder maize avoids the long grain-fill, so it needs less total water than grain maize.
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 Fodder maize Water Requirement Calculator to turn the FAO-56 crop coefficients for fodder maize into a real seasonal water volume and an irrigation interval for their own field — no agronomy tables, works offline.
About Fodder maize Water Requirement Calculator
Fodder maize is harvested green in 65–80 days needing 350–450 mm, with the pre-harvest grand-growth phase using the most. This calculator uses the FAO-56 method — crop evapotranspiration ETc = ET₀ × Kc — with fodder maize's own crop coefficients (Kc 0.3 initial, 1.15 mid-season, 0.9 late) across a 80-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 Fodder maize 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 Fodder maize Water Requirement Calculator?
- ✓Uses fodder maize'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 fodder maize need?+
Fodder maize is harvested green in 65–80 days needing 350–450 mm, with the pre-harvest grand-growth phase using the most. The exact figure depends on climate and season length; this tool sums ET₀ × Kc across the crop's 80-day growth stages for your conditions.
How much water does fodder maize need?+
About 350–450 mm over its short 65–80 day life — less than grain maize because it is cut green at dough stage. The fast vegetative phase is the most water-demanding.
When should I irrigate fodder/silage maize?+
Keep the soil moist through the rapid stem-and-leaf growth phase, which builds tonnage. A check then costs green yield directly; the crop is cut before the grain-fill stage that grain maize must irrigate for.
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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