Crop Coefficient and Water Requirement of Rice in Kooshkak Area, Fars Province

This research was conducted in Kooshkak Farm Research Station of Shiraz University in 1997 and 1998 in order to determine crop coefficient and water requirements of rice, using lysimeter. The variety used was Champa-Kamfiroozi which is an early mature variety and is grown by most farmers in the area. Results showed that potential evapotranspiration varied from 3.76 to 9.34 mm/day. Penman FAO method was used in calculating reference evapotranspiration. Crop coefficient was 0.97 in the initial growth stage, 1.25 in the mid-season growth stage, and 1.09 at the time of harvest. Total crop evapotranspiration rates in 1996 and 1997 were 560 and 757 mm, respectively. Average deep percolation rates in the growing season was 3.4 and 3.5 mm/day in 1996 and 1997, respectively. Finally the total water requirements of rice in 1996 and 1997 were 1983 and 2361 mm, respectively.