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Quantifying evapotranspiration and crop coefficients of California 'Hass' avocado affected by various environmental and plant factors

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  • Montazar, Aliasghar
  • Faber, Ben
  • Corwin, Dennis
  • Pourreza, Alireza
  • Snyder, Richard L.

Abstract

In California, avocados are primarily grown in southern and central parts of the state along the coast. These regions face uncertain water supplies, mandatory reductions of water use, and the rising cost of water. While efficient use of irrigation water is one of the highest conservation priorities, there is currently a lack of accurate information on crop water use and optimal irrigation strategies hindering the achievement of resource-efficient and profitable avocado production. This study aimed at acquiring relevant information on evapotranspiration and developing more precise and representative crop coefficient values for ‘Hass’ avocados under different environments and cropping systems in California. Extensive data collection was conducted at five avocado sites located in major avocado production regions over a three-year period using cutting-edge ground- and remote-sensing technologies. A combination of eddy covariance and surface renewal techniques were utilized to measure actual crop evapotranspiration (ETc act), which were used to develop actual crop coefficient (Kc act) curves that were affected by various climate, crop canopy, slope, elevation, salinity, and soil management features. The results clearly illustrated that the water consumption of avocado orchards is affected by site-specific conditions. Across the experimental sites and study seasons, the seasonal ETc act totals fell within the range of 713 mm to 1028 mm. Considerable variability was found in crop coefficient values of avocado sites, both spatially and temporally. The findings demonstrated greater Kc act values during the flower bud development, and flowering through fruit set growth phases than the fruit development phase, ranging from an average of 0.7–0.85 over the season at the site with the highest values. Daily mean ETc act in spring and summer was 3.4- and 3.8-mm d−1, respectively, whilst winter and fall had a similar daily mean ETc act (2.0 mm d−1) at this site. In contrast, the range of Kc act was 0.55–0.73 at the avocado site with the lowest values where the coastal climate reduced ETc act relative to standardized reference ETo. The information developed by this study enables farmers to determine the water needs of avocado orchards in a more reliable, usable, and affordable format, and it assists local water districts with their water delivery and conservation programs.

Suggested Citation

  • Montazar, Aliasghar & Faber, Ben & Corwin, Dennis & Pourreza, Alireza & Snyder, Richard L., 2025. "Quantifying evapotranspiration and crop coefficients of California 'Hass' avocado affected by various environmental and plant factors," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 313(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:agiwat:v:313:y:2025:i:c:s0378377425001957
    DOI: 10.1016/j.agwat.2025.109481
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Giulia Marino & Daniele Zaccaria & Richard L. Snyder & Octavio Lagos & Bruce D. Lampinen & Louise Ferguson & Stephen R. Grattan & Cayle Little & Kristen Shapiro & Mahesh Lal Maskey & Dennis L. Corwin , 2019. "Actual Evapotranspiration and Tree Performance of Mature Micro-Irrigated Pistachio Orchards Grown on Saline-Sodic Soils in the San Joaquin Valley of California," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 9(4), pages 1-21, April.
    2. Peddinti, Srinivasa Rao & Kambhammettu, BVN P, 2019. "Dynamics of crop coefficients for citrus orchards of central India using water balance and eddy covariance flux partition techniques," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 212(C), pages 68-77.
    3. Rallo, G. & Paço, T.A. & Paredes, P. & Puig-Sirera, À. & Massai, R. & Provenzano, G. & Pereira, L.S., 2021. "Updated single and dual crop coefficients for tree and vine fruit crops," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 250(C).
    4. Zapata, N. & Martinez-Cob, A., 2002. "Evaluation of the surface renewal method to estimate wheat evapotranspiration," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 55(2), pages 141-157, June.
    5. Allen, Richard G. & Pruitt, William O. & Wright, James L. & Howell, Terry A. & Ventura, Francesca & Snyder, Richard & Itenfisu, Daniel & Steduto, Pasquale & Berengena, Joaquin & Yrisarry, Javier Basel, 2006. "A recommendation on standardized surface resistance for hourly calculation of reference ETo by the FAO56 Penman-Monteith method," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 81(1-2), pages 1-22, March.
    6. Snyder, R.L. & Pedras, C. & Montazar, A. & Henry, J.M. & Ackley, D., 2015. "Advances in ET-based landscape irrigation management," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 147(C), pages 187-197.
    7. Belén Cárceles Rodríguez & Víctor Hugo Durán Zuazo & Dionisio Franco Tarifa & Simón Cuadros Tavira & Pedro Cermeño Sacristan & Iván Francisco García-Tejero, 2023. "Irrigation Alternatives for Avocado ( Persea americana Mill.) in the Mediterranean Subtropical Region in the Context of Climate Change: A Review," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-27, May.
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