The method widely used in India for the computation of consumptive use of water is:
(c) Blaney-Criddle equation
Explanation:
In India, the Blaney-Criddle equation is commonly used to estimate the consumptive use (or evapotranspiration) of water for crops, especially in regions where detailed meteorological data may not be available. It is a simpler method that requires data on temperature and the percentage of daytime hours, making it more accessible for practical use in agricultural regions.
Other methods, such as Penman’s equation, are more accurate but require more detailed climatic data, and may not be as commonly applied in areas where this data is limited. Similarly, the Hargreaves-Christiansen equation is used in some regions but is less prevalent than the Blaney-Criddle equation for consumptive use computation in India.
The Tanks and Lysimeter method involves direct measurement of evapotranspiration using specialized equipment and is used for experimental or research purposes but is not widely used for routine field computations.
Thus, the Blaney-Criddle equation is the most widely used method in India for calculating consumptive use.