Irrigation frequency in hot summer weather, how to decide the interval without over or under watering.
3 Answers
There is no single number, because the right interval depends on your soil, the crop and its stage, and how hot and dry the weather is. Sandy soils dry out fast and need water more often, while heavy clay holds water longer and needs it less often. In peak summer the crop loses much more water through the leaves, so the interval is shorter than in cooler months. The practical way is to check the soil in the root zone rather than watch the calendar: take a handful from a few inches down and if it crumbles dry it is time, if it forms a moist ball you can wait. Irrigating early morning or evening reduces evaporation loss compared with midday. Mulching keeps the soil cooler and cuts how often you need to water. If you are on drip you can give shorter, more frequent runs in summer. For your exact crop and stage, your KVK or agriculture officer can give a sensible interval for your area, but the soil check is the most reliable day to day guide.
The handful of soil test never fails me. The calendar lies because every summer is different.
Watering in the evening saved me water in May. Midday irrigation just steams off.