WATER REQUIREMENTS OF CROPSs 33

where D mean depth of water stored in the r0ot

Zone

1.7 1. 1.4m
2
1 8 computed as below
Deviation from the mean at upper end (absolute value)
1.7 1.4 -0.3
Deviation from the mean at lower end 1 . 1 -1.4 = 0.3.
d Average of the absolute values of devia-
0.3 +0.3
tions from mean 30.
2

U'sing Eq. (2.3), we have, n -1 0.30 0.786 or 78.6% Ans.

1.4
8. Consumptive Use or Evapotranspiration ( )
Consumptive use for a particular crop may be defined as the total amount of
water used by the plants in transpiration (building of plant tissues, etc.) and
evaporation from adjacent soils, in any specified time. The values of consumptive
use (C) may be different for different crops, and may be different for the same
crop at different times and places.
In
fact, the consumptive use for a given crop at a given place
throughout the day, throughout the month and throughout the crop period. Values
may vary

ofdaily consumptive use or monthly consumptive use, are generally determined

for a given crop and at a given place. Values of monthly consumptive use over the
entire cropP period, are then used to determine the irrigation requirement of the
crop.
2.8.1. Transpiration. The Consumptive use* or Evapotranspiration (Cu), as
stated above, infact, is the combined measure
of transpiration loss (transpiration)
and the
evaporation lost from the soil body* surrounding the plant.
The transpiration is defined as the
process by which the water leaves a living
plant during photosynthis, through its leaves, to enter
the atmosphere as water vapour.
Transpiration, infact, occurs, when the plant manufactures carbohydrates for its
growth, by the process of photosynthesis. What actually happens is, that the water
extracted by the plant-root system from the soil, is transferred to the plant leaves; and
the surface of each
on
plant leaf, photosynthesis occurs, where the air enters the stomata
openings in the leaf surface, and the chloroplasts within the leaf utilise carbon dioxide
trom the air along with a very very small portion of the available moisture, to manutac-
ture
carbohydrates.As air enters the leaf, the water escapes through the stomata, and
8
evaporated lost) the atmosphere. It should be understood that transpiration oceurs
to
during photosynthesis, which usually occurs during the sun-light; and hence, most of
te transpiration will oxcur during the day light hours. So much so that about 95% of
the total
transpiration occurs during the day time alone.
On
the otler hand, tihe evapuration continues throughout the day aand night,
although its rate may be ditferent. Moreover, the transpirati0n loss, not only
depends upon the avalable sun ight, but also upon tie available moisture, since

Strictly speakng, the consunptive use may be defined as the amount of water used in the
evapotranspiratinn from an area under vegetaton, plus the water used by the plants in their
etabolic process for building of plant issues. Since the quantity of water used in metabolie
process is insignificant compared to evapotranspiration, the terms 'consumptive use (C and
ebapotranspiration (E) are consulered as one andl the same thing.
This also includes the water body, when plants grow within a water body.