Sorghum Water Requirement Calculator
Work out the seasonal and per-irrigation water requirement of sorghum (jowar) (FAO-56 ETc = ET₀ × Kc, peak Kc 1.05) for your field, climate, soil and irrigation method.
Sorghum's waxy leaves and deep roots make it drought-resilient; protect flowering and grain-fill where you can. Rabi jowar on residual vertisol moisture often needs no irrigation at all.
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 Sorghum Water Requirement Calculator to turn the FAO-56 crop coefficients for sorghum (jowar) into a real seasonal water volume and an irrigation interval for their own field — no agronomy tables, works offline.
About Sorghum Water Requirement Calculator
Sorghum needs 400–550 mm and survives drought by going dormant, resuming growth when moisture returns. This calculator uses the FAO-56 method — crop evapotranspiration ETc = ET₀ × Kc — with sorghum (jowar)'s own crop coefficients (Kc 0.35 initial, 1.05 mid-season, 0.5 late) across a 120-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 Sorghum 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 Sorghum Water Requirement Calculator?
- ✓Uses sorghum (jowar)'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 sorghum (jowar) need?+
Sorghum needs 400–550 mm and survives drought by going dormant, resuming growth when moisture returns. The exact figure depends on climate and season length; this tool sums ET₀ × Kc across the crop's 120-day growth stages for your conditions.
Why is sorghum called a drought-resistant crop?+
Sorghum can pause growth under stress and resume when water returns, and its waxy leaves cut transpiration. With deep roots it mines subsoil moisture, finishing on 400–550 mm — far less than maize for similar grain.
Does rabi jowar need irrigation?+
Often none — rabi sorghum on deep black (vertisol) soils lives on stored moisture. Kharif irrigated sorghum benefits from waterings at flowering and grain-fill, which this tool can schedule.
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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