Evapotranspiration and crop coefficient of banana in the coastal region of the state of Ceará, Brazil

Abstract

The study was carried out in Paraipaba-CE, Brazil (latitude 03°28’47’’ S, longitude 39°09’47’’ W, and altitude of 31 m), with the objective of estimating the evapotranspiration and the crop coefficients of banana. It was used the  variety Pacovan, planted in a double row spacing of  4,0 m x 2,0 m x 2,4 m, and irrigated by a microsprinkler irrigation system. Crop evapotranspiration (ETc) was estimated by using the soil water balance method, with daily data from mercury tensiometers. Reference evapotranspiration (ETo) was estimated using the FAO Penman-Monteith method. Observed average ETc values were 2.6 mm d^-1 for the initial stage, 3.5 mm d^-1 for the first cycle flowering and fruit development stage, 3.9 mm d^-1 for the second cycle vegetative growth stage, and 4.3 mm d^-1 for the second cycle flowering and fruit development stage. The average crop coefficient values for the initial stage, first cycle flowering and fruit development stage, second cycle vegetative growth stage, and second cycle flowering and fruit development stage were 0.60, 1.05, 0.86 e 1.05, respectively.