Study on the In-Field Water Balance of Direct-Seeded Rice with Various Irrigation Regimes under Arid Climatic Conditions in Egypt Using the AquaCrop Model

Crop growth models are cost-effective and user-friendly tools for decision-makers to develop efficient in-field management strategies. These models are particularly important in countries such as Egypt, where the risk of water scarcity is inevitable. The present study aimed to examine the in-field w...

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Main Authors: Elsayed Elsadek, Ke Zhang, Ahmed Mousa, Gazi Tawfiq Ezaz, Tolossa Lemma Tola, Hiba Shaghaleh, Amar Ali Adam Hamad, Yousef Alhaj Hamoud
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-02-01
Series:Agronomy
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/2/609
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author Elsayed Elsadek
Ke Zhang
Ahmed Mousa
Gazi Tawfiq Ezaz
Tolossa Lemma Tola
Hiba Shaghaleh
Amar Ali Adam Hamad
Yousef Alhaj Hamoud
author_facet Elsayed Elsadek
Ke Zhang
Ahmed Mousa
Gazi Tawfiq Ezaz
Tolossa Lemma Tola
Hiba Shaghaleh
Amar Ali Adam Hamad
Yousef Alhaj Hamoud
author_sort Elsayed Elsadek
collection DOAJ
description Crop growth models are cost-effective and user-friendly tools for decision-makers to develop efficient in-field management strategies. These models are particularly important in countries such as Egypt, where the risk of water scarcity is inevitable. The present study aimed to examine the in-field water balance of direct-seeded rice (Giza 178) under various irrigation regimes and arid conditions during two growing seasons (2019 and 2020). Four irrigation regimes, namely, continuous flood irrigation with a fixed water depth of 5 cm, and 3-, 6-, and 10-day irrigation frequencies (FI, 3IF, 6IF, and 10IF, respectively), were arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replicates. Then, the feasibility of using AquaCrop in simulating direct-seeded rice development and in-field water balance was assessed. Five statistical indicators, including normalized root-mean-squared error (NRMSE), index of agreement (d), coefficient of determination (R<sup>2</sup>), Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency coefficient (EF), and percent deviation (P<sub>d</sub>), were used to evaluate the performance of AquaCrop. The field trial results demonstrated that both the 3IF and 6IF irrigation regimes were the best for achieving the highest biomass (21.0 t·ha<sup>−1</sup>, under 3IF), yield (9.8 t·ha<sup>−1</sup>, under 3IF), and saving irrigation water (18.3–22.4%, under 6IF), making them the best to apply in Egypt. Moreover, the AquaCrop simulation results showed a good correlation between the observed and simulated rice yield (Y) in both seasons (R<sup>2</sup> = 0.99 and 0.98 in 2019 and 2020, respectively). AquaCrop showed excellent performance in simulating canopy cover (CC) and biomass (B) during both growing seasons (5.0 ≤ NRMSE ≤ 15.0, 0.97 ≤ d ≤ 0.99, 0.92 ≤ R<sup>2</sup> ≤ 0.99, and 0.92 ≤ EF ≤ 0.99). In addition, the model showed acceptable performance in simulating in-field water balance components. Reasonably good model efficiency was recorded in simulating crop actual evapotranspiration (<i>ET<sub>act</sub></i>). Meanwhile, the average <i>P<sub>d</sub></i> for percolation (P) was between −15.3% and 5.4% during both growing seasons. Overall, AquaCrop showed adequate accuracy in simulating <i>CC</i>, <i>B</i>, <i>Y</i>, <i>ET<sub>act</sub></i>, and P but relatively low efficiency in simulating <i>ET<sub>act</sub></i> and P under severe water scarcity. Therefore, AquaCrop may serve as a valuable tool for irrigation management and crop yield prediction even in arid regions, such as Egypt.
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spelling doaj.art-d61548ac41f9418593f39d93191ae9582023-11-16T18:37:07ZengMDPI AGAgronomy2073-43952023-02-0113260910.3390/agronomy13020609Study on the In-Field Water Balance of Direct-Seeded Rice with Various Irrigation Regimes under Arid Climatic Conditions in Egypt Using the AquaCrop ModelElsayed Elsadek0Ke Zhang1Ahmed Mousa2Gazi Tawfiq Ezaz3Tolossa Lemma Tola4Hiba Shaghaleh5Amar Ali Adam Hamad6Yousef Alhaj Hamoud7State Key Laboratory of Hydrology-Water Resources and Hydraulic Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Hydrology-Water Resources and Hydraulic Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, ChinaAgronomy Department, College of Agriculture, Damietta University, Damietta 34517, EgyptState Key Laboratory of Hydrology-Water Resources and Hydraulic Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Hydrology-Water Resources and Hydraulic Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, ChinaCollege of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, ChinaCollege of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Hydrology-Water Resources and Hydraulic Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, ChinaCrop growth models are cost-effective and user-friendly tools for decision-makers to develop efficient in-field management strategies. These models are particularly important in countries such as Egypt, where the risk of water scarcity is inevitable. The present study aimed to examine the in-field water balance of direct-seeded rice (Giza 178) under various irrigation regimes and arid conditions during two growing seasons (2019 and 2020). Four irrigation regimes, namely, continuous flood irrigation with a fixed water depth of 5 cm, and 3-, 6-, and 10-day irrigation frequencies (FI, 3IF, 6IF, and 10IF, respectively), were arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replicates. Then, the feasibility of using AquaCrop in simulating direct-seeded rice development and in-field water balance was assessed. Five statistical indicators, including normalized root-mean-squared error (NRMSE), index of agreement (d), coefficient of determination (R<sup>2</sup>), Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency coefficient (EF), and percent deviation (P<sub>d</sub>), were used to evaluate the performance of AquaCrop. The field trial results demonstrated that both the 3IF and 6IF irrigation regimes were the best for achieving the highest biomass (21.0 t·ha<sup>−1</sup>, under 3IF), yield (9.8 t·ha<sup>−1</sup>, under 3IF), and saving irrigation water (18.3–22.4%, under 6IF), making them the best to apply in Egypt. Moreover, the AquaCrop simulation results showed a good correlation between the observed and simulated rice yield (Y) in both seasons (R<sup>2</sup> = 0.99 and 0.98 in 2019 and 2020, respectively). AquaCrop showed excellent performance in simulating canopy cover (CC) and biomass (B) during both growing seasons (5.0 ≤ NRMSE ≤ 15.0, 0.97 ≤ d ≤ 0.99, 0.92 ≤ R<sup>2</sup> ≤ 0.99, and 0.92 ≤ EF ≤ 0.99). In addition, the model showed acceptable performance in simulating in-field water balance components. Reasonably good model efficiency was recorded in simulating crop actual evapotranspiration (<i>ET<sub>act</sub></i>). Meanwhile, the average <i>P<sub>d</sub></i> for percolation (P) was between −15.3% and 5.4% during both growing seasons. Overall, AquaCrop showed adequate accuracy in simulating <i>CC</i>, <i>B</i>, <i>Y</i>, <i>ET<sub>act</sub></i>, and P but relatively low efficiency in simulating <i>ET<sub>act</sub></i> and P under severe water scarcity. Therefore, AquaCrop may serve as a valuable tool for irrigation management and crop yield prediction even in arid regions, such as Egypt.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/2/609AquaCropaerobic rice systemarid climatein-field water balanceirrigation regimesrice (<i>Oryza sativa</i> L.)
spellingShingle Elsayed Elsadek
Ke Zhang
Ahmed Mousa
Gazi Tawfiq Ezaz
Tolossa Lemma Tola
Hiba Shaghaleh
Amar Ali Adam Hamad
Yousef Alhaj Hamoud
Study on the In-Field Water Balance of Direct-Seeded Rice with Various Irrigation Regimes under Arid Climatic Conditions in Egypt Using the AquaCrop Model
Agronomy
AquaCrop
aerobic rice system
arid climate
in-field water balance
irrigation regimes
rice (<i>Oryza sativa</i> L.)
title Study on the In-Field Water Balance of Direct-Seeded Rice with Various Irrigation Regimes under Arid Climatic Conditions in Egypt Using the AquaCrop Model
title_full Study on the In-Field Water Balance of Direct-Seeded Rice with Various Irrigation Regimes under Arid Climatic Conditions in Egypt Using the AquaCrop Model
title_fullStr Study on the In-Field Water Balance of Direct-Seeded Rice with Various Irrigation Regimes under Arid Climatic Conditions in Egypt Using the AquaCrop Model
title_full_unstemmed Study on the In-Field Water Balance of Direct-Seeded Rice with Various Irrigation Regimes under Arid Climatic Conditions in Egypt Using the AquaCrop Model
title_short Study on the In-Field Water Balance of Direct-Seeded Rice with Various Irrigation Regimes under Arid Climatic Conditions in Egypt Using the AquaCrop Model
title_sort study on the in field water balance of direct seeded rice with various irrigation regimes under arid climatic conditions in egypt using the aquacrop model
topic AquaCrop
aerobic rice system
arid climate
in-field water balance
irrigation regimes
rice (<i>Oryza sativa</i> L.)
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/2/609
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