MEASUREMENT AND SIMULATION OF THE LEAF IN TERCEPTATION LOSS OF WATER ON MAIZE CROP

With the objetive of measuring leaf interceptation loss of water (itp) on maize, four plots in a total of ten, were convered with plastic to avoid infiltration of water in the soil. The measured itp data were o btained from eight artificial irrigations (sprinkler) and 21 rainfalls . The amount of water corresponding to the rainfalls and irrigations w ere 453.2 mm. and the interceptation loss was 141.0 mm. The itp was al so simulated for the whole cycle of the crop by a potential and quadra tic model, obtained from the measured itp data. The total values of th e simulated data were 243,2 and 267,4 mm, for the potential and quadra tic models, respectively, corresponding to 25,8 and 28,4% of the total rainfall. The simulated values corresponding to the 21 rainfalls and eight irrigations were 137,0 and 141,0 mm. for the potential and quadr atic models. The results presented led to the recommendation that the interceptation loss of water due to the irrigation or rainfall has to be considered in planning and managing irrigation projects.