Plant coefficient

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The plant coefficient (Kc value) is used in agriculture to calculate the water consumption of a plant. The plant coefficient was determined for the first time at the Geisenheim research institute with the help of lysimeters . The Kc value differs from plant to plant and changes during the growth phase of a plant, whereby the value usually increases, so the plant needs more water.

The Kc value thus represents a correction factor which, together with the reference evaporation over an ideal grass area (ETo, according to Penman ), determines the water consumption of a certain plant. If you subtract the precipitation from this, you also get an indication of how much water the plant still needs for optimal growth. 

Kc * ETo = Wasserverbrauch der Pflanze

Wasserverbrauch der Pflanze - Niederschlag = Wasserbilanz

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