ToolJoltTools

Garlic Water Requirement Calculator

Work out the seasonal and per-irrigation water requirement of garlic (FAO-56 ETc = ET₀ × Kc, peak Kc 1) for your field, climate, soil and irrigation method.

2523 m³
Seasonal water for 1 acre of garlic
27.0 m³/day
Peak daily need
3 days
Irrigate every
Season length110 days
Net seasonal ET (crop)561 mm
Gross seasonal (after drip / micro losses)623 mm
Peak crop ET (ETc = ET₀ × Kc)6.0 mm/day (Kc 1)
Net depth per irrigation22 mm
Volume per irrigation90 m³

Frequent light irrigation suits garlic's shallow roots; keep moisture steady through bulbing. Stop watering 2–3 weeks before harvest once tops yellow, so bulbs cure firm and store well.

Sources: FAO-56 Kc for garlic (Kc mid 1.00); ICAR-DOGR garlic 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 Garlic Water Requirement Calculator to turn the FAO-56 crop coefficients for garlic into a real seasonal water volume and an irrigation interval for their own field — no agronomy tables, works offline.

About Garlic Water Requirement Calculator

Shallow-rooted garlic needs 350–500 mm of frequent light water and must be dried off before harvest for good storage. This calculator uses the FAO-56 method — crop evapotranspiration ETc = ET₀ × Kc — with garlic's own crop coefficients (Kc 0.7 initial, 1 mid-season, 0.7 late) across a 110-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 Garlic 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 Garlic Water Requirement Calculator?

  • Uses garlic'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 garlic need?+

Shallow-rooted garlic needs 350–500 mm of frequent light water and must be dried off before harvest for good storage. The exact figure depends on climate and season length; this tool sums ET₀ × Kc across the crop's 110-day growth stages for your conditions.

When should I stop irrigating garlic?+

About 2–3 weeks before harvest, when the lower leaves yellow and bulbs are sized. Late watering keeps bulbs soft and prone to rot in storage rather than curing firm and dry.

How much water does garlic need?+

About 350–500 mm of frequent, light irrigation because of its shallow roots, peaking through bulb development. Drip improves bulb uniformity and saves water versus flooding.

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.

Related tools

Related Agri tools

Sponsored