Abstract:

The study of the consumptive use of water
by the Nakyetengu Banana (!¦»’« a. acuminata) was
conducted at Kabanyolo University Farm, Uganda.
The main objective was to find the pattern of
water use of the banana plant from planting go
harvest, and then determine the ratios between
water use and the atmospheric: water demands,
ratios obtained to be used, as specific crop co—
The
?
efficients in scheduling supplemental irrigation
to bananas planted in other locations in Uganda.
(2)
Tnree methods of estimaoing water use were
employed, (1) The hydraulic weighing lysimeter.
The same lysimeter without the weighing
system but with the aid of nylon units. (3) The
gravimetric method. >, The water use data obtained
were compared to the potential evaporation from an
open water- surface Penman
to the evapora
tion from the Standard East African Pan (Ep), on
a monthl.y basis..
The results show that water use of the
tanana crop in the tropical climate of Uganda,
closely follows 'she development of leaf area and
plant height, with a maximum peak at the time of
. sheeting and flowering. Th" Erp/g and Eg,/--, ratios
were fairly close at all stages o? plant development.