FAO Land & Water Director Lifeng Li, was joined by Senior Land and Water Officer Maher Salman, and other experts at the long-awaited launch of the second edition of FAO Irrigation and Drainage Paper 56, on Crop Evapotranspiration, at the 4th World Irrigation Forum in Kuala Lumpur this morning. The original FAO 56 paper was launched in 1998 as an ultimate guidebook on crop evapotranspiration. It introduced the Penman-Monteith method, a scientific way to calculate exactly how much water crops need under different weather conditions.
This updated edition not only builds on the scientific rigor and widespread adoption of the original guidelines but also introduces practical innovations tailored to regional realities, particularly in water-stressed environments. By refining crop coefficient estimation, optimizing irrigation scheduling, and incorporating adaptive strategies, the revised FAO 56 provides a comprehensive framework for addressing the water–food–climate nexus.
This publication will serve as a critical technical reference for governments, development agencies, researchers, and practitioners committed to enhancing water productivity, ensuring food security, and promoting climate-resilient agriculture.
Further information at:
https://www.fao.org/land-water
