Table 1.

Yield goals and season lengths for common crops

Yield goal Growing

Crop Moderate High season
(days)

Field crops (bushels/acre)

grain corn 150 200 120
soybeansa 40 60 120
Vegetable crops (tons/acre)
cantaloupes 3 5 90
cucumbers 6 10 60
lima beans 1.5 2.5 80
peas 2.5 4 100
small vegetables - - 60
sweet corn 6 8 90
sweet potatoes 8 10 120
tomatoes 20 30 100
watermelons 18 28 110

a
Although a 120-day crop, soybeans are irrigated primarily from flowering to maturity.

Table 2. Estimated irrigation water requirement (in inches)

Crop Assurance level

50 percent 80 percent 90 percent

Grain corn 8(12)a 10(15) -

Soybeans 5(8) 7(11) -
Sweet
potatoes 5(7) 6(9) -
Cucumbers 4(6) - 5(8)
Lima beans 3(4) - 4(5)
Peas 3(4) - 4(5)
Small
vegetablesb 2(3) - 3(4)
Sweet corn 3(4) - 4(5)
Tomatoes 4(6) - 5(7)
Watermelon 4(6) - 6(8)

a
Moderate yield (high yield).
b 
Assumes a single 60-day planting.

The peak water use rate for vegetables and most grain crops falls between
0.2 and 0.25 inches per day (5,500 to 7,000 gallons per acre per day). The
peak water use rate for high-yielding grain corn can reach 0.33 inches per day
(9,000 gallons per acre per day).
 kg/bushel
ha/acre

Table 1. Yield goals and season lengths for common crops

Yield goal Growing

Crop Moderate High season
(days)

Field crops (kgs/ha)

grain corn 9,414.7 12,552.9 120
soybeansa 2,690.0 4,035.1 120
Vegetable crops (tons/ha)
cantaloupes 7.4 12.4 90
cucumbers 14.8 24.7 60
lima beans 3.7 6.2 80
peas 6.2 9.9 100
small vegetables - - 60
sweet corn 14.8 19.8 90
sweet potatoes 19.8 24.7 120
tomatoes 49.4 74.1 100
watermelons 44.5 69.2 110

a
Although a 120-day crop, soybeans are irrigated primarily from flowering to maturity.

Table 2. Estimated irrigation water requirement (in inches)

Crop Assurance level

50 percent 80 percent 90 percent

Grain corn 8(12)a 10(15) - 12

Soybeans 5(8) 7(11) - 8
Sweet
potatoes 5(7) 6(9) - 7
Cucumbers 4(6) - 5(8) 6
Lima beans 3(4) - 4(5) 4
Peas 3(4) - 4(5) 4
Small
vegetablesb 2(3) - 3(4) 3
Sweet corn 3(4) - 4(5) 4
Tomatoes 4(6) - 5(7) 6
Watermelon 4(6) - 6(8) 6

a
Moderate yield (high yield).
b 
Assumes a single 60-day planting.

The peak water use rate for vegetables and most grain crops falls between
0.2 and 0.25 inches per day (5,500 to 7,000 gallons per acre per day). The
peak water use rate for high-yielding grain corn can reach 0.33 inches per day
(9,000 gallons per acre per day).

10 20 30 40 50

4leafs 8leafs 12leafs Early tessel

Corn 0.09 0.14 0.18 0.26 0.32

22.9 35.6 45.7 66.0 81.3

Soybean - - 0.06 0.08 0.12

- - 15.2 20.3 30.5
 lt m3
=3.78541*271#VALUE!
2,031,975.9 2,032.0
- -
1,777,978.9 1,778.0
1,523,981.9 1,524.0
1,015,987.9 1,016.0
1,015,987.9 1,016.0

761,990.9 762.0
1,015,987.9 1,016.0
1,523,981.9 1,524.0
1,523,981.9 1,524.0

60 70 80 90 100 115 120 130 140

Silking Blister Kernel Early Dem Full Dem Blacklayer

0.35 0.3 0.24 0.2 0.16 0.1

88.9 76.2 61.0 50.8 40.6 25.4
flowering Full blow Pod filling 1/2 size green bean
full size green bean maturity

0.15 0.18 0.22 0.24 0.25 0.21 0.15 0.09 0.05

38.1 45.7 55.9 61.0 63.5 53.3 38.1 22.9 12.7
 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
Corn 0.09 0.14 0.18 0.26 0.32 0.35 0.3 0.24
Soybean - - 0.06 0.08 0.12 0.15 0.18 0.22

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
Corn 22.9 35.6 45.7 66.0 81.3 88.9 76.2 61.0
Soybean - - 15.2 20.3 30.5 38.1 45.7 55.9

0.4

0.35

0.3

0.25

0.2

0.15

0.1

0.05

0
10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 115 120 130 140

100.0

90.0

80.0

70.0

60.0

50.0

40.0

30.0

20.0
60.0

50.0

40.0

30.0

20.0

10.0

-
10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 115 120 130 140
 90 100 115 120 130 140
0.2 0.16 0.1 - - -
0.24 0.25 0.21 0.15 0.09 0.05

90 100 115 120 130 140

50.8 40.6 25.4
61.0 63.5 53.3 38.1 22.9 12.7

130 140