A simple method of estimating the soil water balance

A simple method of computing daily evapotranspiration is described. The main inputs to the model are easily measurable parameters such as rainfall and pan evaporation. The model takes into account evaporative demand and soil and crop factors, and can be used for the estimation of soil water loss in both fallow and cropped situations. In developing and testing the model, both published experimental information and data collected at ICRISAT Center were used. Estimated values of evapotranspiration and soil moisture storage were found to compare favourably with the observed values