Calibration and Evaluation of the FAO AquaCrop Model for Canola ( Brassica napus ) under Varied Moistube Irrigation Regimes

Tinashe Lindel Dirwai, Aidan Senzanje and Tafadzwanashe Mabhaudhi
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Tinashe Lindel Dirwai: School of Engineering, University of KwaZulu-Natal, P. Bag X01, Pietermaritzburg 3209, South Africa
Aidan Senzanje: School of Engineering, University of KwaZulu-Natal, P. Bag X01, Pietermaritzburg 3209, South Africa
Tafadzwanashe Mabhaudhi: Center for Transformative Agricultural and Food Systems, School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, P. Bag X01, Pietermaritzburg 3209, South Africa

Agriculture, 2021, vol. 11, issue 5, 1-18

Abstract: The AquaCrop model was calibrated and validated for canola ( Brassica napus ) under Moistube irrigation (MTI) and various water regimes [(i) 100%, (ii) 75%, and (iii) 55% of crop water requirement ( ET c )] over two seasons, 2019 and 2020. The normalised root mean square ( nRMSE ), Model Efficiency ( EF ), R 2 , and the Willmot’s index of agreement ( d ) statistics were used to evaluate the model’s efficiency in simulating biomass ( B ), canopy cover ( CC ), yield ( Y ), and harvest index ( HI ). The calibration results indicated the model simulated with accuracy the CC (under 100% ET c R 2 = 0.99, EF = 0.92, nRMSE = 6.4%, d = 0.98) and 75% ET c ( R 2 = 0.99, EF = 0.92, nRMSE = 10.3%, d = 0.98). The model simulated CC well for validation for 100% ET c ( R 2 = 0.97, EF = 0.93, nRMSE = 22.5%, d = 0.98) and 75% ET c ( R 2 = 0.84, EF = 0.45, nRMSE = 59.2%, d = 0.86) irrigation regimes. Final biomass simulations were reasonably good under 100% ET c , 75% ET c , and 55% ET c irrigation regimes ( R 2 > 0.90, d > 0.65). The study showed the usefulness of AquaCrop for assessing yield response of canola to full and deficit irrigation scenarios under MTI.

Keywords: biomass; crop modelling; water productivity; water regimes; yield (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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