Saffron Water Requirement Calculator
Work out the seasonal and per-irrigation water requirement of saffron (FAO-56 ETc = ET₀ × Kc, peak Kc 0.7) for your field, climate, soil and irrigation method.
Saffron needs a dry summer dormancy, light autumn irrigation to trigger flowering, then careful winter moisture. Excellent drainage is vital — waterlogged corms rot. Over-watering destroys the crop.
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 Saffron Water Requirement Calculator to turn the FAO-56 crop coefficients for saffron into a real seasonal water volume and an irrigation interval for their own field — no agronomy tables, works offline.
About Saffron Water Requirement Calculator
Saffron needs only 300–500 mm, timed around autumn flowering, and is ruined by waterlogging of the corms. This calculator uses the FAO-56 method — crop evapotranspiration ETc = ET₀ × Kc — with saffron's own crop coefficients (Kc 0.4 initial, 0.7 mid-season, 0.5 late) across a 150-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 Saffron 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 Saffron Water Requirement Calculator?
- ✓Uses saffron'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 saffron need?+
Saffron needs only 300–500 mm, timed around autumn flowering, and is ruined by waterlogging of the corms. The exact figure depends on climate and season length; this tool sums ET₀ × Kc across the crop's 150-day growth stages for your conditions.
When is saffron irrigated?+
Lightly in autumn to trigger flowering after the dry summer dormancy, then sparingly through corm growth in winter. The corms rot in wet soil, so drainage and restraint are essential.
How much water does saffron need?+
Only 300–500 mm, carefully timed. Saffron is a dry-climate corm crop; its main irrigation risk is too much water, which rots corms, rather than too little.
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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