SOIL Studies

SOIL Studies

2012, Vol 1, Num, 2     (Pages: 119-131)

Evaluation of FAO-AQUACROP Model Performance for Winter Wheat under Irrigated and Rainfed Conditions

S. Kale 1 ,A.F.Tarı 2

1 Süleyman Demirel Universitesi, Ziraat Fakültesi, Tarımsal Yapılar ve Sulama Bölümü, Isparta
2 Harran Üniversitesi, Ziraat Fakültesi, Tarımsal Yapılar ve Sulama Bölümü, Şanlıurfa

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The main purpose of deficit irrigation is high water productivity with lesser water supplies to optimum crop yield. Accurate crop development models are important tools in evaluating the effects of different water applications on crop yields. The FAO-AQUACROP model (Ver. 3.1 plus) simulates attainable yields of major herbaceous crops as a function of water consumption under rainfed, supplemental, deficit, and full irrigation conditions. AquaCrop model predicts evapotranspiration as plant water consumption and bare soil evaporation while calculating daily biomass yields uses daily transpiration. The aim of this study; validation and testing of the AQUACROP model for winter wheat under full and deficit irrigated conditions in semi arid condition such as Central Anatolia. Model was evaluated with crop yields which were obtained under rainfed and irrigated condition in Bala Agricultural Enterprise fields. Model prediction and actual results were compared. According to statistical evaluation; average deviation (α), standard error (RMSE) and modeling efficiency (E) for biomass and for crop yield was found as 1.16, 1.17 t ha-1 and 0.67 and 0.320, 0.326 t ha-1 and 0.83 respectively. Model predicted soil water content in root zone, canopy cover and grain yields with high accuracy but biomass were predicted higher than actual results.


Keywords : AquaCrop, wheat yield, water use efficiency, Bala