Water balance is very important for evaluating inflow and outflow water in a soil block explored by a crop. This situation allows to estimate parameters associated to crop water schedule such as evapotranspiration and crop coefficient (kc), which are present as physical and biological indicators, especially when associated to the phenologic cycle. Therefore, the objective of this paper was to monitor water and climatic regime from April to Setember/2004 of an adult coffee crop of the cultivar Catuaí pruned four years before, and to estimate crop evapotranspiration (ETc) and Kc, applying the water balance method. The results allowed concluding that the coffee crop presented ETc values between 1.23 and 4.39 mm day-1 and Kc from 0.59 to 1.16. Kc showed a relationship with coffee crop phenology; however, it indicated a decrease of the dormancy period and an anticipation of the coffee fruits formation and vegetative development.
water balance; coffee; irrigation
