Estimation of Crop Coefficients Based on Normalize Difference Vegetation Index

Crop coefficient is one of the most important parameters used for the estimation of crop evapotranspiration (ETc). Crop coefficient (Kc)-based estimation of crop evapotranspiration is most commonly used methods for irrigation water management. However, crop coefficient approach used for estimation ETc using the generalized crop coefficients mentioned in Irrigation and Drainage Paper No. 56 of the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations can contribute to crop evapotranspiration estimates that are substantially different from actual crop evapotranspiration. The colinear relationship between the crop coefficient curve and a satellitederived Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) showed potential for modeling a crop coefficient as a function of the NDVI, which is also one among the methods used for estimation of ETc in irrigation water management. The present study was conducted with objectives to present the techniques and procedures to develop and estimates Kc based on vegetation index (NDVI) extracted from satellite data. The relationships between and NDVI and crop coefficients (Kc) of wheat and chickpea for corresponding months were developed. The regression models developed are: (Kc) NDVI = 6.3268*NDVI-1.4207 for wheat and (Kc) NDVI = 5.7866 * NDVI-1.6699 for chickpea. The models showed strong relationships with R2= 0.86 and R2=0.84 for wheat and chickpea, respectively. The model and techniques to develop and estimate crop coefficients can be used in other regions in the global, and hence estimate crop evapotranspiration. The crop coefficients (Kc) estimated based on NDVI are useful for irrigation scheduling, evaluating irrigation performance, irrigation water management, and estimation of water use efficiency.