@article{fdi:010065486,
  title = {{P}erformance assessment of {A}qua{C}rop model for estimating evapotranspiration, soil water content and grain yield of winter wheat in {T}ensift {A}l {H}aouz ({M}orocco) : application to irrigation management},
  author = {{T}oumi, {J}. and {E}r-{R}aki, {S}. and {E}zzahar, {J}. and {K}habba, {S}. and {J}arlan, {L}ionel and {C}hehbouni, {A}bdelghani},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{C}rop growth simulation models have become important tools to assess and develop deficit irrigation strategies especially in arid and semi-arid regions. {I}n this study, we tested the ability of the {FAO} developed {A}qua{C}rop model ({V} 4.0) to simulate canopy cover ({CC}), actual evapotranspiration ({ET}cact), total soil water content ({TWC}) and grain yield ({GY}) for winter wheat under flood irrigation in the semi-arid region of {T}ensift {A}l {H}aouz, {M}arrakech (center of {M}orocco). {T}he simulation was performed at a daily time step, using thermal units, i.e., growing degree days ({GDD}s) during two successive growing seasons: 2002/2003 and 2003/2004. {F}irstly, the calibration of the model was performed on three fields during 2002/2003 cropping season. {V}arious parameters affecting {CC}, {ET}cact,{TWC} and {GY} have been calibrated based on the comparison between measurements and the results of simulations. {A}fterward, the validation was done on six fields during the 2003/2004 cropping season. {T}he results showed that the model simulates reasonably well {CC}, {ET}cact, {TWC} and {GY} over two growing seasons. {T}he average values of the {M}ean {B}ias {E}rror ({MBE}) between observed and measured {CC}, {ET}cact,{TWC} and {GY} were -4.6%, -0.23 mm/day, 17.56 mm and 0.05 t/ha for the calibration fields, and 7.89%, -0.01 mm/day, 0.5 mm and 0.06 t/ha for the validation fields, respectively. {A}dditional statistical parameters like the root mean square error ({RMSE}) and the {N}ash-{S}utcliffe efficiency ({NSE}) showed also that the model gives acceptable estimates of {CC}, {ET}nct, {TWC} and {GY}. {A}fter accurate calibration and validation of the {A}qua{C}rop model, it was used for irrigation scheduling based on the threshold of the root zone water depletion ({D}-r,{D}-threshold) over two fields with contrasted sowing dates. {T}he various simulations (irrigation scenarios) showed that early sowing is more adequate than late sowing in saving water and obtaining adequate grain yield. {I}t has been also shown that the value 0.6 of {D}-r,{D}- threshold can be used as an appropriate threshold of water depletion to improve the wheat irrigation management. {C}onsequently, the {A}qua{C}rop model can be considered as a potentially useful tool for planning irrigation schedules on an operational basis in the arid and semi-arid regions.},
  keywords = {{C}rop water requirement ; {A}gronomic model ; {M}odel calibration ; {M}odel validation ; {I}rrigation scheduling ; {W}inter wheat ; {MAROC}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{A}gricultural {W}ater {M}anagement},
  volume = {163},
  numero = {},
  pages = {219--235},
  ISSN = {0378-3774},
  year = {2016},
  DOI = {10.1016/j.agwat.2015.09.007},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010065486},
}