Crop Water Production Functions—A Review of Available Mathematical Method

Abstract

Crop water production function is the relationship between obtained marketable yield and the total amount of water used by plant through evapotranspiration. Different mathematical expressions have been derived from field experiments to predict yield knowing water use. Such expressions provide a powerful tool in water allocation optimization. However these functions are commonly confused with the relationship between available water and crop yield. This paper reviews functions that describe crop water production, the context they can be used for, and their strength and weakness.