Water requirement estimator
How much water do you need?
A rough daily budget by crop, area and irrigation method — useful for sizing a pump or tank, not a substitute for local agronomic advice.
~90% efficient — least waste
Approximate daily need
17,986–26,979 L/day
About 18–27 loads of a 1,000L tanker, for 1 acre of cotton on drip.
- Crop's actual need
- 16,187–24,281 L
- After 90% field efficiency
- 17,986–26,979 L
Based on typical crop water use of 4–6mm/day in active growth — real requirement shifts with soil, season, growth stage and local weather. Treat this as a starting budget, not a schedule; your district agriculture office or a local agronomist can refine it for your field.
Talk it through on WhatsApp →Where these numbers come from
- FAO Irrigation and Drainage Paper 56 (opens in a new tab)
The reference method for crop evapotranspiration and crop coefficients that daily water figures derive from.
- FAO Land and Water (opens in a new tab)
Irrigation water management guidance, including scheduling and application efficiency.
- TNAU Agritech Portal (opens in a new tab)
Crop-wise spacing, water requirement and drip layout references for southern India.
