LANDSCAPE COEFFICIENT TO DETERMINE WATER REQUIREMENT FOR A COMPUTER MODEL

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Grad. Student

2 Prof. Emt. , Ag. Eng., Ain-Shams Univ.,Col. Ag., Egypt.

3 Ascoc, Prof. of Ag. Eng., Ain-Shams Univ.,Col. Ag., Egypt.

4 Res. Ag. Eng., Inst. of Ag. Eng. Res., ARC, Egypt.

5 Asst. Prof. Hortic, Ain-Shams Univ., Egypt.

Abstract

The two factors used to determine landscape water requirement (ETL), the landscape coefficient and reference evapotranspiration, are solely responsible for producing differences in water loss estimates. For plantings in the same location (i.e., where the same ETo values will be used), the differences will arise solely from the landscape coefficient. To produce useful estimates of water loss, therefore, it is important to carefully determine the value of KL.
In agriculture, irrigation water requirements are well established for many crops. In urban landscapes, irrigation requirements have been determined for turf grasses, but not for most landscape species. This study adapts this method for application to landscape plantings.
The method used for estimating water needs for landscape plantings is basically the same as that used for crops and turfgrasses. One key change, however, has been made: instead of using the crop coefficient (Kc), a landscape coefficient (KL) has been substituted.
The main objective of this work is building computer program to determine water requirement for some multi-plant landscape and modern system for their irrigation.
Audit in the accounts of landscape coefficient (KL) closest to the prevailing conditions by application "Landscape Irrigation Scheduling" program outputs, led to save water use by 60% for landscape plants in Giza (latitude 30o 05', longitude 31o12') with good appearance and growth for landscape plants and grass.
The program could offer a simple tool for planning ornamental plants and turf grass water requirements for landscape projects.

Keywords


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