43.2. Consumptive Use

Try these first

1. 1.

   Define consumptive use in your own words.

   Hint

   Think about water used in plants or evaporated.

2. 2.

   What components are included in evapotranspiration?

   Hint

   It’s the total loss of water!

3. 3.

   What does consumptive use include?

   • Only evaporation
   • Evapotranspiration and interception losses
   • Just transpiration

   Hint

   Consider the total water loss from soil and plants!

4. 4.

   True or False: Effective rainfall directly contributes to consumptive use.

   • True
   • False

   Hint

   Think about rainfall that goes into the soil!

5. 5.

   A farmer uses a lysimeter to determine that their crop has a consumptive use of 450 mm for the season but faces an effective rainfall of only 150 mm. Calculate the needed irrigation for optimal crop growth.

   Hint

   Apply the formula for irrigation needs systematically.

6. 6.

   Analyze how seasonal changes may affect consumptive use in a warm region versus a cold region.

   Hint

   Consider how temperature alters water needs!