Application of FAO-AquaCrop model in evaluating climate change impact on wheat productivity in the rainfed Zaer area

Accurate crop development modelling is important in planning rational use of water resources and crop management, along with evaluating the effects of climate change on crop productivity and predicting yields. This study aims at modelling winter wheat productivity under different climatic scenarios...

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Main Authors: O. Iben Halima, H. Iaaich, A. Kerfati, R. Moussadek, N. Mazen, I. Jnad
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: National Institute of Agronomic Research "INRA" Morocco 2022-03-01
Series:African and Mediterranean Agricultural Journal - Al Awamia
Subjects:
Online Access:https://revues.imist.ma/index.php/Afrimed/article/view/31283
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author O. Iben Halima
H. Iaaich
A. Kerfati
R. Moussadek
N. Mazen
I. Jnad
author_facet O. Iben Halima
H. Iaaich
A. Kerfati
R. Moussadek
N. Mazen
I. Jnad
author_sort O. Iben Halima
collection DOAJ
description Accurate crop development modelling is important in planning rational use of water resources and crop management, along with evaluating the effects of climate change on crop productivity and predicting yields. This study aims at modelling winter wheat productivity under different climatic scenarios and models, in a Moroccan rainfed agriculture site using the FAO AquaCrop model. The study site was a one-hectare experiment plot located in the Marchouch plateau in the North-western Morocco. The model was calibrated using field parameters of the crop growing cycle, the soil characteristics, the crop management and the observed yield for a period covering three cropping cycles (from 2014/2015 to 2016/2017) using daily rainfall and temperature data. The calibrated model was then used to simulate wheat productivity in the study site for short-term (2020-2030) and medium-term periods (2040-2050) compared to a reference (1985-2005). Two Representative Concentration Pathway scenarios (RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5) were considered for three General circulation models (CNRM, EC-EARTH, and GFDL) to derive the average model outputs with focus on the crop yield, crop growing cycle and evapotranspiration. The results showed a good model calibration, with coefficient of determination R2 of 0.84, Nash-Sutcliffe indicator of 0.71 and Willmott index of 0.94. Simulations showed that under RCP 4.5 a short-term yield drop of 5.94%, a medium-term crop cycle decrease of 15 days and evapotranspiration reduction of 20mm. Meanwhile, the model predicted under RCP 8.5 a medium-term yield drop of 12.9%, a crop cycle decrease of 13 days and evapotranspiration reduction of 46mm. Overall, simulation results showed that AquaCrop model is suitable for simulating the effects of water and climatic stress on crop productivity in rainfed agricultural areas, which could help decision making in terms of water productivity and crop adaptation under future climate trends in the semiarid conditions.
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spelling doaj.art-dd61d51703014ac8bd92eecd263fc6722023-06-28T11:42:01ZengNational Institute of Agronomic Research "INRA" MoroccoAfrican and Mediterranean Agricultural Journal - Al Awamia2658-91842022-03-01013317018710.34874/IMIST.PRSM/afrimed-i133.3128314957Application of FAO-AquaCrop model in evaluating climate change impact on wheat productivity in the rainfed Zaer areaO. Iben Halima0H. Iaaich1A. Kerfati2R. Moussadek3N. Mazen4I. Jnad5INRA / Centre Régional de la Recherche Agronomique de RabatINRA / Centre Régional de la Recherche Agronomique de RabatMinistère de l'AgricultureINRA / Centre Régional de la Recherche Agronomique de RabatACSADACSADAccurate crop development modelling is important in planning rational use of water resources and crop management, along with evaluating the effects of climate change on crop productivity and predicting yields. This study aims at modelling winter wheat productivity under different climatic scenarios and models, in a Moroccan rainfed agriculture site using the FAO AquaCrop model. The study site was a one-hectare experiment plot located in the Marchouch plateau in the North-western Morocco. The model was calibrated using field parameters of the crop growing cycle, the soil characteristics, the crop management and the observed yield for a period covering three cropping cycles (from 2014/2015 to 2016/2017) using daily rainfall and temperature data. The calibrated model was then used to simulate wheat productivity in the study site for short-term (2020-2030) and medium-term periods (2040-2050) compared to a reference (1985-2005). Two Representative Concentration Pathway scenarios (RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5) were considered for three General circulation models (CNRM, EC-EARTH, and GFDL) to derive the average model outputs with focus on the crop yield, crop growing cycle and evapotranspiration. The results showed a good model calibration, with coefficient of determination R2 of 0.84, Nash-Sutcliffe indicator of 0.71 and Willmott index of 0.94. Simulations showed that under RCP 4.5 a short-term yield drop of 5.94%, a medium-term crop cycle decrease of 15 days and evapotranspiration reduction of 20mm. Meanwhile, the model predicted under RCP 8.5 a medium-term yield drop of 12.9%, a crop cycle decrease of 13 days and evapotranspiration reduction of 46mm. Overall, simulation results showed that AquaCrop model is suitable for simulating the effects of water and climatic stress on crop productivity in rainfed agricultural areas, which could help decision making in terms of water productivity and crop adaptation under future climate trends in the semiarid conditions.https://revues.imist.ma/index.php/Afrimed/article/view/31283modélisation des cultureschangement climatiquebléaquacrop- faomarchouchmaroc
spellingShingle O. Iben Halima
H. Iaaich
A. Kerfati
R. Moussadek
N. Mazen
I. Jnad
Application of FAO-AquaCrop model in evaluating climate change impact on wheat productivity in the rainfed Zaer area
African and Mediterranean Agricultural Journal - Al Awamia
modélisation des cultures
changement climatique
blé
aquacrop- fao
marchouch
maroc
title Application of FAO-AquaCrop model in evaluating climate change impact on wheat productivity in the rainfed Zaer area
title_full Application of FAO-AquaCrop model in evaluating climate change impact on wheat productivity in the rainfed Zaer area
title_fullStr Application of FAO-AquaCrop model in evaluating climate change impact on wheat productivity in the rainfed Zaer area
title_full_unstemmed Application of FAO-AquaCrop model in evaluating climate change impact on wheat productivity in the rainfed Zaer area
title_short Application of FAO-AquaCrop model in evaluating climate change impact on wheat productivity in the rainfed Zaer area
title_sort application of fao aquacrop model in evaluating climate change impact on wheat productivity in the rainfed zaer area
topic modélisation des cultures
changement climatique
blé
aquacrop- fao
marchouch
maroc
url https://revues.imist.ma/index.php/Afrimed/article/view/31283
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AT akerfati applicationoffaoaquacropmodelinevaluatingclimatechangeimpactonwheatproductivityintherainfedzaerarea
AT rmoussadek applicationoffaoaquacropmodelinevaluatingclimatechangeimpactonwheatproductivityintherainfedzaerarea
AT nmazen applicationoffaoaquacropmodelinevaluatingclimatechangeimpactonwheatproductivityintherainfedzaerarea
AT ijnad applicationoffaoaquacropmodelinevaluatingclimatechangeimpactonwheatproductivityintherainfedzaerarea