Pearl millet Water Requirement Calculator
Work out the seasonal and per-irrigation water requirement of pearl millet (bajra) (FAO-56 ETc = ET₀ × Kc, peak Kc 1) for your field, climate, soil and irrigation method.
Bajra is usually rain-fed; if irrigation is available, the tillering and grain-fill stages give the response. Its deep, efficient roots and short season make it the safest crop on water-short sandy land.
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 Pearl millet Water Requirement Calculator to turn the FAO-56 crop coefficients for pearl millet (bajra) into a real seasonal water volume and an irrigation interval for their own field — no agronomy tables, works offline.
About Pearl millet Water Requirement Calculator
Bajra is the drylands survivor, finishing on just 250–350 mm and tolerating drought that would kill most cereals. This calculator uses the FAO-56 method — crop evapotranspiration ETc = ET₀ × Kc — with pearl millet (bajra)'s own crop coefficients (Kc 0.35 initial, 1 mid-season, 0.3 late) across a 100-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 Pearl millet 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 Pearl millet Water Requirement Calculator?
- ✓Uses pearl millet (bajra)'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 pearl millet (bajra) need?+
Bajra is the drylands survivor, finishing on just 250–350 mm and tolerating drought that would kill most cereals. The exact figure depends on climate and season length; this tool sums ET₀ × Kc across the crop's 100-day growth stages for your conditions.
How drought-tolerant is bajra?+
Extremely — pearl millet finishes a grain crop on 250–350 mm and survives heat and dry spells that destroy maize or wheat, which is why it dominates the arid sandy tracts of Rajasthan and Gujarat.
Does bajra respond to irrigation?+
Yes, where available: irrigations at tillering and grain-filling lift yield, and a single life-saving irrigation in a long dry spell prevents collapse. But its niche is precisely land too dry for thirstier crops.
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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