Application of the AquaCrop model in decision support for optimization of nitrogen fertilizer and water productivity of soybeans

Modelling of the effects of water and different levels of nitrogen on evapotranspiration and water productivity of rainfed soybeans is very important in optimising resource use in the production of the crop. The objective of the study was to model evapotranspiration, soil water storage and water pro...

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Main Authors: Omotayo B. Adeboye, Bart Schultz, Amaka P. Adeboye, Kenneth O. Adekalu, Jimmy A. Osunbitan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2021-09-01
Series:Information Processing in Agriculture
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214317320302080
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author Omotayo B. Adeboye
Bart Schultz
Amaka P. Adeboye
Kenneth O. Adekalu
Jimmy A. Osunbitan
author_facet Omotayo B. Adeboye
Bart Schultz
Amaka P. Adeboye
Kenneth O. Adekalu
Jimmy A. Osunbitan
author_sort Omotayo B. Adeboye
collection DOAJ
description Modelling of the effects of water and different levels of nitrogen on evapotranspiration and water productivity of rainfed soybeans is very important in optimising resource use in the production of the crop. The objective of the study was to model evapotranspiration, soil water storage and water productivity of rainfed soybeans under different levels of nitrogen fertilizer by using the FAO AquaCrop model. Field experiments were conducted at the Teaching and Research Farms of Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria in the rainy seasons of 2015 and 2016. There were five levels of nitrogen, which are 00, 25, 50, 75 and 100% of the recommended nitrogen applications and two varieties of soybeans, which produced a 2 by 5 factorial experimental design. The data of the wetter year 2015, were used for calibration of the AquaCrop model because AquaCrop is water driven. The 2016 data were used for the validation. The AquaCrop model simulated canopy cover with R2 and EF > 0.90, d-index ≥ 0.99. The model captured the trend of the soil water storage well, R2 and EF ≥ 0.70. The AquaCrop model simulated soil water storage below wilting point for seasonal rainfall less than 600 mm, and it did not overestimate it. The model predicted evapotranspiration with R2 and EF ≥ 0.89, d-index = 1.00. Above ground biomass was overestimated even though R2 ≥ 0.98. Although, nitrogen stress reduced seed yield and water productivity, there was no under or over estimation of the seed yields. They were predicted with low error under the different levels of nitrogen fertilizer, R2 ≥ 0.99, EF and d-index ≥ 0.99. The AquaCrop model is suitable for simulating canopy cover, soil water storage, evapotranspiration, and seed yield of rainfed soybeans with different levels of nitrogen fertilizer under temporal distribution of seasonal rainfall. Therefore, it can serve as a useful tool for smallholder farmers in predicting productivity of soybeans and optimising resource allocation, land and water use in the tropical farming systems.We recommend simulation of the effects of pest on biomass, seed yield and water productivity by subsequent versions of the AquaCrop model. In addition, incorporating an economic sub-unit in the model will enable users to make financial decisions.
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spelling doaj.art-4de91d5d89cb47e9a38ede8bcfe885442023-09-02T11:05:24ZengElsevierInformation Processing in Agriculture2214-31732021-09-0183419436Application of the AquaCrop model in decision support for optimization of nitrogen fertilizer and water productivity of soybeansOmotayo B. Adeboye0Bart Schultz1Amaka P. Adeboye2Kenneth O. Adekalu3Jimmy A. Osunbitan4Department of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria; Corresponding author.Land and Water Development IHE Delft, Lelystad, the NetherlandsDepartment of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, NigeriaDepartment of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, NigeriaDepartment of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, NigeriaModelling of the effects of water and different levels of nitrogen on evapotranspiration and water productivity of rainfed soybeans is very important in optimising resource use in the production of the crop. The objective of the study was to model evapotranspiration, soil water storage and water productivity of rainfed soybeans under different levels of nitrogen fertilizer by using the FAO AquaCrop model. Field experiments were conducted at the Teaching and Research Farms of Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria in the rainy seasons of 2015 and 2016. There were five levels of nitrogen, which are 00, 25, 50, 75 and 100% of the recommended nitrogen applications and two varieties of soybeans, which produced a 2 by 5 factorial experimental design. The data of the wetter year 2015, were used for calibration of the AquaCrop model because AquaCrop is water driven. The 2016 data were used for the validation. The AquaCrop model simulated canopy cover with R2 and EF > 0.90, d-index ≥ 0.99. The model captured the trend of the soil water storage well, R2 and EF ≥ 0.70. The AquaCrop model simulated soil water storage below wilting point for seasonal rainfall less than 600 mm, and it did not overestimate it. The model predicted evapotranspiration with R2 and EF ≥ 0.89, d-index = 1.00. Above ground biomass was overestimated even though R2 ≥ 0.98. Although, nitrogen stress reduced seed yield and water productivity, there was no under or over estimation of the seed yields. They were predicted with low error under the different levels of nitrogen fertilizer, R2 ≥ 0.99, EF and d-index ≥ 0.99. The AquaCrop model is suitable for simulating canopy cover, soil water storage, evapotranspiration, and seed yield of rainfed soybeans with different levels of nitrogen fertilizer under temporal distribution of seasonal rainfall. Therefore, it can serve as a useful tool for smallholder farmers in predicting productivity of soybeans and optimising resource allocation, land and water use in the tropical farming systems.We recommend simulation of the effects of pest on biomass, seed yield and water productivity by subsequent versions of the AquaCrop model. In addition, incorporating an economic sub-unit in the model will enable users to make financial decisions.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214317320302080AquaCropSoybeansNitrogen fertilizerProcess based modelNigeria
spellingShingle Omotayo B. Adeboye
Bart Schultz
Amaka P. Adeboye
Kenneth O. Adekalu
Jimmy A. Osunbitan
Application of the AquaCrop model in decision support for optimization of nitrogen fertilizer and water productivity of soybeans
Information Processing in Agriculture
AquaCrop
Soybeans
Nitrogen fertilizer
Process based model
Nigeria
title Application of the AquaCrop model in decision support for optimization of nitrogen fertilizer and water productivity of soybeans
title_full Application of the AquaCrop model in decision support for optimization of nitrogen fertilizer and water productivity of soybeans
title_fullStr Application of the AquaCrop model in decision support for optimization of nitrogen fertilizer and water productivity of soybeans
title_full_unstemmed Application of the AquaCrop model in decision support for optimization of nitrogen fertilizer and water productivity of soybeans
title_short Application of the AquaCrop model in decision support for optimization of nitrogen fertilizer and water productivity of soybeans
title_sort application of the aquacrop model in decision support for optimization of nitrogen fertilizer and water productivity of soybeans
topic AquaCrop
Soybeans
Nitrogen fertilizer
Process based model
Nigeria
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214317320302080
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