Water requirement satisfaction index for coffee (Coffea canephora) crops in Western Amazon

• Published in: Revista brasileira de engenharia agrícola e ambiental 2025, Vol.29 (1)
• Main Authors: José, Jefferson V., Pereira, Lívia B., Souza, Moisés D., Leite, Kelly N., Santos, Otávio N. A., Santos, Lucas C.
• Format: Article
• Language: Portuguese
• Subjects: AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING; ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
• ISSN: 1807-1929
• DOI: 10.1590/1807-1929/agriambi.v29n1e281191

ABSTRACT Water balance is a tool that has various applications in agriculture, including assessing whether an environment is suitable for growing a specific crop by providing information on how water resources function in the system. This information is essential for determining whether the available water satisfies the crop’s demand. Thus, the objective of this work was to calculate the water balance of Typic Hapludults for growing coffee (Coffea canephora) crops in Cruzeiro do Sul, Acre, Brazil, using a 36-year historical series to assess the potential and limitation of the crop according to the water availability. The results showed that coffee crops are, in general, suitable for growing in the study region. Water deficit and water surplus periods are well-defined, from April to August and September to March, respectively. Flowering was the only stage of coffee crops that coincides with the water deficit period in the region; thus, irrigation is necessary to prevent compromising this stage and fruit development. The Water Requirement Satisfaction Index (WRSI), calculated on a monthly basis, indicates a low climate risk for coffee crops in the region. However, when calculated on a daily basis, the WRSI shows a medium to high climate risk for coffee crops in several periods. The WRSI proved to be an adequate tool for assisting in decision-making regarding the adoption of irrigation.