Modelling Soil Moisture Content with Hydrus 2D in a Continental Climate for Effective Maize Irrigation Planning

Nxumalo Gift Siphiwe, Tamás Magyar (), János Tamás and Attila Nagy
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Nxumalo Gift Siphiwe: Institute of Water and Environmental Management, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences and Environmental Management, University of Debrecen, 138 Böszörményi Str., 4032 Debrecen, Hungary
Tamás Magyar: Institute of Water and Environmental Management, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences and Environmental Management, University of Debrecen, 138 Böszörményi Str., 4032 Debrecen, Hungary
János Tamás: Institute of Water and Environmental Management, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences and Environmental Management, University of Debrecen, 138 Böszörményi Str., 4032 Debrecen, Hungary
Attila Nagy: Institute of Water and Environmental Management, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences and Environmental Management, University of Debrecen, 138 Böszörményi Str., 4032 Debrecen, Hungary

Agriculture, 2024, vol. 14, issue 8, 1-23

Abstract: In light of climate change and limited water resources, optimizing water usage in agriculture is crucial. This study models water productivity to help regional planners address these challenges. We integrate CROPWAT-based reference evapotranspiration (ET o ) with Sentinel 2 data to calculate daily evapotranspiration and water needs for maize using soil and climate data from 2021 to 2023. The HYDRUS model predicted volumetric soil moisture content, validated against observed data. A 2D hydrodynamic model within HYDRUS simulated temporal and spatial variations in soil water distribution for maize at a non-irrigated site in Hungary. The model used soil physical properties and crop evapotranspiration rates as inputs, covering crop development stages from planting to harvest. The model showed good performance, with R² values of 0.65 (10 cm) and 0.81 (60 cm) in 2021, 0.51 (10 cm) and 0.50 (60 cm) in 2022, and 0.38 (10 cm) and 0.72 (60 cm) in 2023. RMSE and NRMSE values indicated reliability. The model revealed water deficits and proposed optimal irrigation schedules to maintain soil moisture between 32.2 and 17.51 V/V%. This integrated approach offers a reliable tool for monitoring soil moisture and developing efficient irrigation systems, aiding maize production’s adaptation to climate change.

Keywords: HYDRUS hydrodynamic modeling; soil moisture monitoring; evapotranspiration; maize irrigation (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: 2024
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