How do I plan my irrigation using the weather forecast?

Check the forecast before every irrigation and skip or delay watering if useful rain is expected in the next day or two, which saves water, diesel and pumping cost. The basic method is this. Before you irrigate, look at the 3 day forecast. If reliable rain of a useful amount is coming, postpone irrigation and let the rain do it. If no rain is expected and the crop is at a sensitive stage, irrigate on time. Combine the forecast with how the crop and soil look, because forecast plus field check beats either one alone. Avoid irrigating on a day when heavy rain may follow, as that can waterlog the field and harm roots. In hot dry windy weather the crop loses more water, so it may need water sooner, while in cool cloudy weather you can stretch the interval. The Meghdoot advisory often gives irrigation guidance for your district crops directly. Over a season this forecast based scheduling cuts a few unnecessary irrigations and reduces your input cost noticeably.