IRRIGATION SYSTEMS DESIGN MANUAL (VOLUME I)

The various parameters listed above and historic weather data for Abu Dhabi meteorological
stations were incorporated to calculate reference evapotranspiration using the above
equation. Based on the ETo obtained for these stations, isolines maps for maximum water
requirements month and the year average were produced for reference. Results obtained
are presented in Appendix A.

4.2 Landscape Coefficient (KL)

Reference ET is used as the basis for determining the plant water needs of landscape
plants. However, because reference ET represents ET from a standardized grass surface, it
must be adjusted to account for effects of other plant species and microclimate. According to
the methodology of the California Department of Water Resources, ETo is adjusted by
applying a landscape coefficient (KL) to calculate the plant water requirement. Water needs
of landscape plantings can be estimated using the landscape evapotranspiration formula:

ETL = KL x ETo

Where:

ETL: Landscape Evapotranspiration in mm/day

KL: Landscape Coefficient
ETo: Reference Evapotranspiration in mm/day
This formula states that water needs of a landscape planting (landscape is calculated by
multiplying the landscape coefficient and the reference evapotranspiration. As mentioned
above, the formula is basically the same as the ETc formula, except that a landscape
coefficient (KL) has been substituted for the crop coefficient (Kc). This change is necessary
because of important differences which exist between crop or turf grass systems and
landscape plantings. The following table summarizes the water requirements for several
species in Abu Dhabi.

Table 4-1: Water Requirements for Several Species In Abu Dhabi

DAILY WATER REQUIREMENTS
NAME Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
PALMS (l/tree/day)
CYCAS REVOLUTA 21.3 33.8 43.9 63.0 75.6 73.8 78.5 55.6 50.8 39.9 31.0 23.1
PHOENIX DACTYLIFERA 55.6 70.9 92.2 120.5 144.6 141.1 150.0 144.9 132.5 103.9 80.7 60.1
WASHINGTONIA ROBUSTA 55.6 70.9 92.2 120.5 144.6 141.1 150.0 144.9 132.5 103.9 80.7 60.1
TREES (l/tree/day)
AZADIRACHTA INDICA 9.5 15.0 19.5 28.0 33.6 32.8 34.9 24.7 22.6 17.7 13.8 10.2
CASSIA JAVANICA 21.3 33.8 43.9 63.0 75.6 73.8 78.5 55.6 50.8 39.9 31.0 23.1
CONOCARPUS ERECTUS 21.3 33.8 43.9 63.0 75.6 73.8 78.5 55.6 50.8 39.9 31.0 23.1
CONOCARPUS LANCIFOLUS 21.3 33.8 43.9 63.0 75.6 73.8 78.5 55.6 50.8 39.9 31.0 23.1
CORDIA SEBESTENA 27.4 43.4 56.4 81.0 97.1 94.8 100.8 71.4 65.3 51.2 39.8 29.6
DELONIX REGIA 21.3 33.8 43.9 63.0 75.6 73.8 78.5 55.6 50.8 39.9 31.0 23.1
FICUS BINNENDIJKII 21.3 33.8 43.9 63.0 75.6 73.8 78.5 55.6 50.8 39.9 31.0 23.1
FICUS NITIDA 21.3 33.8 43.9 63.0 75.6 73.8 78.5 55.6 50.8 39.9 31.0 23.1
HIBISCUS TILIACEUS 27.4 43.4 56.4 81.0 97.1 94.8 100.8 71.4 65.3 51.2 39.8 29.6

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NAME Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
OLEA OLEANDER 9.5 15.0 19.5 28.0 33.6 32.8 34.9 24.7 22.6 17.7 13.8 10.2
PELTOPHORUM INERME 21.3 33.8 43.9 63.0 75.6 73.8 78.5 55.6 50.8 39.9 31.0 23.1
PLUMERIA OBTUSA 27.4 43.4 56.4 81.0 97.1 94.8 100.8 71.4 65.3 51.2 39.8 29.6
PLUMERIA RUBRA 27.4 43.4 56.4 81.0 97.1 94.8 100.8 71.4 65.3 51.2 39.8 29.6
PONGAMIA GLABRA 27.4 43.4 56.4 81.0 97.1 94.8 100.8 71.4 65.3 51.2 39.8 29.6
PROSOPIS CINERARIA 21.3 33.8 43.9 63.0 75.6 73.8 78.5 55.6 50.8 39.9 31.0 23.1
TABEBUIA AOREA 21.3 33.8 43.9 63.0 75.6 73.8 78.5 55.6 50.8 39.9 31.0 23.1
TERMINELLIA CATAPPA 21.3 33.8 43.9 63.0 75.6 73.8 78.5 55.6 50.8 39.9 31.0 23.1
THESPESIA POPULNEA 21.3 33.8 43.9 63.0 75.6 73.8 78.5 55.6 50.8 39.9 31.0 23.1

SHRUBS (l/m2/day)

AGASTACHE MEXICANA 1.5 2.4 3.1 4.5 5.4 5.2 5.6 4.0 3.6 2.8 2.2 1.6
ATRIPLEX HALIMUS 1.5 2.4 3.1 4.5 5.4 5.2 5.6 4.0 3.6 2.8 2.2 1.6
ATRIPLEX SEMI BACCATA 1.5 2.4 3.1 4.5 5.4 5.2 5.6 4.0 3.6 2.8 2.2 1.6
BOUGAINVILLEA GLABRA WHITE 3.4 5.4 7.0 10.1 12.1 11.8 12.6 8.9 8.1 6.4 5.0 3.7
BOUGAINVILLEA GLABRA RED 3.4 5.4 7.0 10.1 12.1 11.8 12.6 8.9 8.1 6.4 5.0 3.7
CANNA INDICA 5.3 8.5 11.0 15.8 18.9 18.5 19.6 13.9 12.7 10.0 7.7 5.8
CRINUM ASIATICUM 3.4 5.4 7.0 10.1 12.1 11.8 12.6 8.9 8.1 6.4 5.0 3.7
GARDENIA 5.3 8.5 11.0 15.8 18.9 18.5 19.6 13.9 12.7 10.0 7.7 5.8
JATROPHA PANDURIFOLIA 3.4 5.4 7.0 10.1 12.1 11.8 12.6 8.9 8.1 6.4 5.0 3.7
HIBISCUS ROSA 5.3 8.5 11.0 15.8 18.9 18.5 19.6 13.9 12.7 10.0 7.7 5.8
IXORA COCCINEA 3.4 5.4 7.0 10.1 12.1 11.8 12.6 8.9 8.1 6.4 5.0 3.7
LEPTADENIA PYROTECHNICA 1.5 2.4 3.1 4.5 5.4 5.2 5.6 4.0 3.6 2.8 2.2 1.6
LEUCOPHYLLUM FRUTESCENS 3.4 5.4 7.0 10.1 12.1 11.8 12.6 8.9 8.1 6.4 5.0 3.7
LEUCOPHYLLUM GREEN CLOUD 3.4 5.4 7.0 10.1 12.1 11.8 12.6 8.9 8.1 6.4 5.0 3.7
MYRTUS COMMUNIS 3.4 5.4 7.0 10.1 12.1 11.8 12.6 8.9 8.1 6.4 5.0 3.7
MURRAYA EXOTICA 5.3 8.5 11.0 15.8 18.9 18.5 19.6 13.9 12.7 10.0 7.7 5.8
NERIUM OLEANDER RED 1.5 2.4 3.1 4.5 5.4 5.2 5.6 4.0 3.6 2.8 2.2 1.6
NERIUM OLEANDER VARIEGATA 1.5 2.4 3.1 4.5 5.4 5.2 5.6 4.0 3.6 2.8 2.2 1.6
NERIUM OLEANDER WHITE 1.5 2.4 3.1 4.5 5.4 5.2 5.6 4.0 3.6 2.8 2.2 1.6
SALVADORA PERSICA 1.5 2.4 3.1 4.5 5.4 5.2 5.6 4.0 3.6 2.8 2.2 1.6
TABERNAEMONTANA DIVARICATA 1.5 2.4 3.1 4.5 5.4 5.2 5.6 4.0 3.6 2.8 2.2 1.6
TECOMA STANS 3.4 5.4 7.0 10.1 12.1 11.8 12.6 8.9 8.1 6.4 5.0 3.7
TURNERA ULMIFORIA 3.4 5.4 7.0 10.1 12.1 11.8 12.6 8.9 8.1 6.4 5.0 3.7
TECOMA SMITHI 3.4 5.4 7.0 10.1 12.1 11.8 12.6 8.9 8.1 6.4 5.0 3.7
2
GROUND COVERS (l/m /day)

ALTERNANTHERA VERSICOLOR 2.8 4.4 5.7 8.2 9.8 9.6 10.2 7.2 6.6 5.2 4.0 3.0
CARISSA GREEN CARPET 2.2 3.5 4.5 6.5 7.7 7.6 8.0 5.7 5.2 4.1 3.2 2.4
EPIPREMNUM AUREUM 2.8 4.4 5.7 8.2 9.8 9.6 10.2 7.2 6.6 5.2 4.0 3.0
FICUS MICROCARPA GREEN ISLAND 2.8 4.4 5.7 8.2 9.8 9.6 10.2 7.2 6.6 5.2 4.0 3.0
GAZANIA NIVEA 2.8 4.4 5.7 8.2 9.8 9.6 10.2 7.2 6.6 5.2 4.0 3.0
HYMENOCALLIS LITORALIS 3.2 5.1 6.6 9.4 11.3 11.0 11.7 8.3 7.6 6.0 4.6 3.4

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DAILY WATER REQUIREMENTS

NAME Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
IRIS ICON 2.8 4.4 5.7 8.2 9.8 9.6 10.2 7.2 6.6 5.2 4.0 3.0
RUELLIA CILIOSA 3.2 5.1 6.6 9.4 11.3 11.0 11.7 8.3 7.6 6.0 4.6 3.4
RHOEO DISCOLOR 2.8 4.4 5.7 8.2 9.8 9.6 10.2 7.2 6.6 5.2 4.0 3.0
SESUVIUM GREEN CARPET 2.2 3.5 4.5 6.5 7.7 7.6 8.0 5.7 5.2 4.1 3.2 2.4
WEDELIA TRILOBATA 2.8 4.4 5.7 8.2 9.8 9.6 10.2 7.2 6.6 5.2 4.0 3.0
2
SUCCULENTS (l/m /day)

ADENIUM CELESUM 3.4 5.4 7.0 10.1 12.1 11.8 12.6 8.9 8.1 6.4 5.0 3.7
AGAVE AMERICANA MARGINATA 3.4 5.4 7.0 10.1 12.1 11.8 12.6 8.9 8.1 6.4 5.0 3.7
SANSEVIERIA TRIFASCIATA 3.4 5.4 7.0 10.1 12.1 11.8 12.6 8.9 8.1 6.4 5.0 3.7
ZAMIA FURFURACEA 3.4 5.4 7.0 10.1 12.1 11.8 12.6 8.9 8.1 6.4 5.0 3.7

GRASS (l/m2/day)

PANDANUS BAPTISTII VARIEGATA 3.7 4.7 6.1 8.0 9.6 9.4 10.0 9.6 8.8 6.9 5.4 4.0
PENNISETUM RUBERUM 3.7 4.7 6.1 8.0 9.6 9.4 10.0 9.6 8.8 6.9 5.4 4.0
PENNISETUM SETACEUM 3.7 4.7 6.1 8.0 9.6 9.4 10.0 9.6 8.8 6.9 5.4 4.0
PASPALUM VAGINATUM 3.7 4.7 6.1 8.0 9.6 9.4 10.0 9.6 8.8 6.9 5.4 4.0

For further information of landscape coefficient calculation refer to Appendix B.

4.3 Run-off
The rate at which a soil can absorb or take in water is called the infiltration rate. The rate at
which an irrigation system applies water is called the application rate. If the application rate
is higher than the soil’s infiltration rate, some of the applied irrigation water will collect on the
surface, creating a potential for run-off. If there is a path downhill, the water will not stand,
but will run-off carrying water away from where it was applied. Although the run-off may not
leave the field boundary, it can create a problem since the water no longer will be where it
can effectively provide the water the plants need. Runoff water is wasted water. It also
wastes energy, wastes topsoil, and can be a pollutant by carrying off sediments, fertilizer,
and pesticides.

Properly designed irrigation systems apply water at a rate low enough to allow all the water
to infiltrate into the soil without run-off. To avoid runoff, and depending on the slope, soil
intake rate and the precipitation rate of the station/zone, the base run time of irrigation may
need to be divided into multiple cycles (also called cycle starts or repeat cycles) with soak
time between the cycles. The number of cycle starts can be determined different methods.
Each method is presented in Part 7 - section 2, followed by determination of the run time of
each cycle start and soak time between cycles.

4.4 Leaching Requirement (LR)

Leaching requirement (LR) is a plant-specific parameter. It is a prescribed value of leaching,
so that root zone salinity does not exceed the threshold salinity tolerance of the plant in
question. This plant-specific LR is defined as:

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