Assessment of FAO AquaCrop Model for Simulating Maize Growth and Productivity under Deficit Irrigation in a Tropical Environment
Crop simulation models have a pivotal role to play in evaluating irrigation management strategies for improving agricultural water use. The objective of this study was to test and validate the AquaCrop model for maize under deficit irrigation management. Field observations from three experiments con...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2016-11-01
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| Series: | Water |
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| Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/8/12/557 |
| _version_ | 1811218131788496896 |
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| author | Geneille E. Greaves Yu-Min Wang |
| author_facet | Geneille E. Greaves Yu-Min Wang |
| author_sort | Geneille E. Greaves |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Crop simulation models have a pivotal role to play in evaluating irrigation management strategies for improving agricultural water use. The objective of this study was to test and validate the AquaCrop model for maize under deficit irrigation management. Field observations from three experiments consisting of four treatments were used to evaluate model performance in simulating canopy cover (CC), biomass (B), yield (Y), crop evapotranspiration (ETc), and water use efficiency (WUE). Statistics for root mean square error, model efficiency (E), and index of agreement for B and CC suggest that the model prediction is good under non-stressed and moderate stress environments. Prediction of final B and Y under these conditions was acceptable, as indicated by the high coefficient of determination and deviations <10%. In severely stressed conditions, low E and deviations >11% for B and 9% for Y indicate a reduction in the model reliability. Simulated ETc and WUE deviation from observed values were within the range of 9.5% to 22.2% and 6.0% to 32.2%, respectively, suggesting that AquaCrop prediction of these variables is fair, becoming unsatisfactory as plant water stress intensifies. AquaCrop can be reliably used for evaluating the effectiveness of proposed irrigation management strategies for maize; however, the limitations should be kept in mind when interpreting the results in severely stressed conditions. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T07:05:33Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0126a594256a4bf19d852d1e953d189b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4441 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T07:05:33Z |
| publishDate | 2016-11-01 |
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| series | Water |
| spelling | doaj.art-0126a594256a4bf19d852d1e953d189b2022-12-22T03:42:49ZengMDPI AGWater2073-44412016-11-0181255710.3390/w8120557w8120557Assessment of FAO AquaCrop Model for Simulating Maize Growth and Productivity under Deficit Irrigation in a Tropical EnvironmentGeneille E. Greaves0Yu-Min Wang1Department of Tropical Agriculture and International Cooperation, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, 1 Shuefu Rd., Neipu, Pingtung 91201, TaiwanDepartment of Civil Engineering, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, 1 Shuefu Rd., Neipu, Pingtung 91201, TaiwanCrop simulation models have a pivotal role to play in evaluating irrigation management strategies for improving agricultural water use. The objective of this study was to test and validate the AquaCrop model for maize under deficit irrigation management. Field observations from three experiments consisting of four treatments were used to evaluate model performance in simulating canopy cover (CC), biomass (B), yield (Y), crop evapotranspiration (ETc), and water use efficiency (WUE). Statistics for root mean square error, model efficiency (E), and index of agreement for B and CC suggest that the model prediction is good under non-stressed and moderate stress environments. Prediction of final B and Y under these conditions was acceptable, as indicated by the high coefficient of determination and deviations <10%. In severely stressed conditions, low E and deviations >11% for B and 9% for Y indicate a reduction in the model reliability. Simulated ETc and WUE deviation from observed values were within the range of 9.5% to 22.2% and 6.0% to 32.2%, respectively, suggesting that AquaCrop prediction of these variables is fair, becoming unsatisfactory as plant water stress intensifies. AquaCrop can be reliably used for evaluating the effectiveness of proposed irrigation management strategies for maize; however, the limitations should be kept in mind when interpreting the results in severely stressed conditions.http://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/8/12/557irrigation managementAquaCrop modelmaizedeficit irrigation |
| spellingShingle | Geneille E. Greaves Yu-Min Wang Assessment of FAO AquaCrop Model for Simulating Maize Growth and Productivity under Deficit Irrigation in a Tropical Environment Water irrigation management AquaCrop model maize deficit irrigation |
| title | Assessment of FAO AquaCrop Model for Simulating Maize Growth and Productivity under Deficit Irrigation in a Tropical Environment |
| title_full | Assessment of FAO AquaCrop Model for Simulating Maize Growth and Productivity under Deficit Irrigation in a Tropical Environment |
| title_fullStr | Assessment of FAO AquaCrop Model for Simulating Maize Growth and Productivity under Deficit Irrigation in a Tropical Environment |
| title_full_unstemmed | Assessment of FAO AquaCrop Model for Simulating Maize Growth and Productivity under Deficit Irrigation in a Tropical Environment |
| title_short | Assessment of FAO AquaCrop Model for Simulating Maize Growth and Productivity under Deficit Irrigation in a Tropical Environment |
| title_sort | assessment of fao aquacrop model for simulating maize growth and productivity under deficit irrigation in a tropical environment |
| topic | irrigation management AquaCrop model maize deficit irrigation |
| url | http://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/8/12/557 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT geneilleegreaves assessmentoffaoaquacropmodelforsimulatingmaizegrowthandproductivityunderdeficitirrigationinatropicalenvironment AT yuminwang assessmentoffaoaquacropmodelforsimulatingmaizegrowthandproductivityunderdeficitirrigationinatropicalenvironment |