Consumptive Use and Yields of Crops in New Mexico

The main objective of the research was to determine the consumptive use throughout the growing season of selected crops at Los Lunas, Las Cruces, Farmington, Artesia, and Clovis and to relate consumptive-use data to climatological data in order to determine coefficients that may be used with different meteorological models to estimate future consumptive use requirements. Specific objectives were:

1. To determine the quantity and rate of moisture depletion by consumptive use throughout the growing season of selected crops grown in Eddy, Curry, Dona Ana, San Juan. and Valencia Counties;
2. To concurrently measure pan evaporation, temperature, solar radiation, precipitation, wind movement, and humidity at sites where consumptive use is being determined;
3. To use these data to refine coefficients presently used in the Blaney-Criddle method and extend the application of this formula in consumptive use estimates;
4. To examine other methods of estimating consumptive use of irrigated crops such as methods developed by Priestly-Taylor, Jensen-Haise, Penman, and others.

Project No. B-054-NMEX