Abstract
The water requirements of upland rice (Oryza sativa) were measured with lysimeters in the south-western region of Burkina Faso (Farako-bâ agronomic research station) in 1990, 1993, and 1994. The variety used was IRAT 144 (100-day maturing cycle), which was a short-cycle variety, adapted to the region, and considered suitable. The average maximum evapo-transpiration (MET) was 542 mm. The global crop coefficient and pan factor values calibrated in situ using the rice MET to the Penman reference evapo-transpiration ratio and MET to the pan evaporation (Ev) ratio, were respectively, 1.04 and 1.16. The pan factor on 10-day period values were used to simulate the temporal evolution of the rice water requirements, in accordance with different sowing dates. The best sowing date seemed to be the last 10 days of June.
