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How do we calculate the water balance?
How do we calculate the water balance?

Parameters of your water balance, calculated based on soil, rainfalls, root depth, and crop coefficient.

Updated over a week ago

To calculate the water balance, we are using several parameters depending on the soil, the rainfalls, and the specificities of your crops (crop coefficient and roots' depth).


Soil

To calculate the TAW (Total Available Water) we are taking several parameters into account:
1. The soil type

2. Roots' depth (by crop)

3. Stone content of soil

Thanks to Rawls and Saxton equations we can calculate the Total Available Water in the soil from soil composition in terms of clay, sand, silt and organic matter.

These formulas provide two essential values; the field capacity and the wilting point. The difference between these two values is the TAW. Then, in order to reduce this value to a volume of soil explored by the roots, this first theoretical TAW value is multiplied by the root depth.

Stones are part of the soil but do not contribute in the same way to water retention. That’s why, at Sencrop, we take in account the percentage of stones in the soil to recalculate the TAW according to the real part of the soil that can contain water.
The result of these calculations is shown on the y-axis of the graph.


Rainfall

To calculate your water balance, we consider both the rainfall and the irrigations you perform.

The rainfall shown in the report is the one registered by the Raincrop (same as the one displayed on the Dashboard).

Don't forget to clean your station to ensure that you always have the most accurate data at all times.


Characteristics of your crops

We consider two specific characteristics of your crops to ensure that your water balance is as accurate as possible, helping you to manage your irrigation.

Crop Coefficient (KC)

The crop coefficient is a crucial factor in determining the water requirements of your crops. It represents the amount of water a particular crop needs compared to a reference crop.

The crop coefficient varies depending on the type of crop, the growth stage, and environmental conditions.

Root Depth

The root depth refers to the distance between the soil surface and the deepest point of the root system of your crops.

The depth of a crop's roots can vary depending on the type of plant, type of soil, and environmental conditions. The deeper the root system, the better a crop can meet its water and nutrient needs, resulting in better growth and plant resilience.


When does my water balance start?

By default, the start date of your water balance is set for January 1st.

However, you can change the start date of the water balance directly in the app.

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