@article{fdi:010086315,
  title = {{M}ulticriteria evaluation of the {A}qua{C}rop crop model in a hilly rainfed {M}editerranean agrosystem},
  author = {{D}houib, {M}. and {Z}itouna-{C}hebbi, {R}. and {P}revot, {L}. and {M}olenat, {J}. and {M}ekki, {I}. and {J}acob, {F}r{\'e}d{\'e}ric},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{E}xploring crop spatial organizations within landscapes is a promising solution for agroecological transitions and climate change adaptation in {M}editerranean rainfed hilly agrosystems. {A} prerequisite is to ensure that crop models can simulate a range of agrohydrological processes in such agrosystems. {T}he current study deepened the evaluation of the {A}qua{C}rop model by conducting a multicriteria evaluation (canopy cover {CC}, dry aboveground biomass {AGB}, actual evapotranspiration {ET}a, runoff {R}, soil water content {SWC}) for a range of crop and soil combinations, and for contrasted hydroclimatic years in northeastern {T}unisia. {T}he data were collected in the {K}amech catchment ({OMERE} {O}bservatory) during nine measurement campaigns on predominant soils and crops. {A}qua{C}rop simulations were based on field observations and parameters from the literature. {A}qua{C}rop could simulate plant dynamics and water fluxes for contrasted hydroclimatic years, with a slight dependence on soil class and a significant dependence on crop type. {M}odel simulations were of moderate quality for {CC} ({R}-2 of 0.45, {RMSE} of 0.24 on average) and of acceptable quality for {AGB} ({R}-2 of 0.81, {RMSE} of 0.85 ton ha(-1) on average). {A}qua{C}rop acceptably simulated water transfer across the soil-plant continuum ({R}-2 of 0.62, {RMSE} of 0.77 mm day(-1) on average for {ET}a; {R}-2 of 0.68, {RMSE} of 0.75 mm day(-1) on average for {R}; {R}-2 of 0.86, {RMSE} of 27.4 mm on average for {SWC}). {T}he model performances were satisfactory for most cases, with p values larger than 5 % for the {S}tudent's t test on linear regressions of validation. {O}ur results were similar to those reported in previous studies over flat terrain, including delayed senescence by model simulations with subsequent overestimation of {CC} and {AGB} observations. {A}dditionally, soil cracks likely altered the {A}qua{C}rop ability to simulate runoff. {D}espite these limitations, our results support the application of {A}qua{C}rop to evaluate water productivity in hilly agrosystems.},
  keywords = {{A}qua{C}rop model ; {R}ainfed agrosystems ; {H}illy terrains ; {M}ulticriteria evaluation ; {M}editerranean soils and crops ; {S}oil water balance ; {TUNISIE} ; {ZONE} {MEDITERRANEENNE}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{A}gricultural {W}ater {M}anagement},
  volume = {273},
  numero = {},
  pages = {107912 [16 p.]},
  ISSN = {0378-3774},
  year = {2022},
  DOI = {10.1016/j.agwat.2022.107912},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010086315},
}