Agroclimatic modeling of the water requirement of the oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) crop in the Cesar department, Colombia

The limited availability of water in the Cesar department (Colombia), along with the high-water consumption associated with the lack of knowledge of water requirements and the low efficiency of irrigation systems in the oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) crop, has led to an inefficient use of water resources and affected the crop productivity. The main objective of this research was to determine the water demand of oil palm cultivated in areas with homogeneous agroclimatic conditions in the Cesar department. For this purpose, climatic information of the department was obtained from meteorological stations and climatic satellite data. The water demand was also determined by obtaining the crop coefficient (Kc) for plants aged 10 and 15 years, using the water balance methodology. The Kc obtained was 0.91 and 0.84, respectively. As a result of the zoning, 10 agroclimatic zones were identified in the department, of which 8 were found to be suitable for oil palm cultivation. In these zones, water requirements are expected to be homogeneous due to similar soil and climate characteristics. This information was used to estimate the regional water balance, allowing farmers to plan water management and optimize the use of available resources.