@article{fdi:010086458,
  title = {{A}ssessment of crop evapotranspiration and deep percolation in a commercial irrigated citrus orchard under semi-arid climate : combined {E}ddy-{C}ovariance measurement and soil water balance-based approach},
  author = {{A}bou {A}li, {A}. and {B}ouchaou, {L}. and {E}r-{R}aki, {S}. and {H}ssaissoune, {M}. and {B}rouziyne, {Y}. and {E}zzahar, {J}. and {K}habba, {S}. and {C}hakir, {A}dnane and {L}abbaci, {A}. and {C}hehbouni, {A}bdelghani},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{A}n accurate estimate of crop coefficient ({K}c) values at different development stages ({K}cini, {K}cmid, and {K}cend) is crucial for assessing crop water requirements in semi-arid regions. {T}he objectives of this study were first to quantify the reference evapotranspiration ({ET}o) and to calculate the actual evapotranspiration ({ET}a) over citrus in a semi-arid climate under drip irrigation. {F}or this purpose, a site of a citrus orchard in {S}ouss-{M}assa, planted with the {E}sbal variety of clementine, was equipped with an {E}ddy-{C}ovariance ({EC}) system, and sensors to measure radiation, soil heat flux, and micrometeorological forcing data, during 2020 and 2021 seasons. {A}lso, the soil moisture content at various soil depths in the root zone near the {EC} tower was monitored. {T}he energy balance closure ({EBC}) approach was adopted for flux assessment to ensure a quality check for the {EC} measurements. {T}he obtained {EBC}s were about 82% and 79% for the daily measurements in 2020 and 2021, respectively, which can be considered acceptable considering the nature of the citrus orchard (relatively tall and sparse). {S}econd, the study aimed to estimate actual {K}c act values for citrus under the same irrigation strategy. {T}he derived values were compared to different recommended {K}c values in the literature. {I}n the third stage, this work aimed to offer an alternative plan to sustainable irrigation management by elaborating an irrigation schedule for citrus crops in the region using the {FAO}-56 simple approach to avoid water stress and deep percolation (i.e., {K}s = 1 and {DP} = 0). {E}ventually, an irrigation schedule was drawn following the crop's phenological stages. {T}he seasonal mean citrus evapotranspiration ({ET}a) values are 1.68, 3.02, and 1.86 mm/day for the initial, mid, and end-season. {T}he seasonal actual {K}c act values were 0.64, 0.58, and 0.64 for {K}cini, {K}cmid, and {K}cend, respectively. {A}dditionally, the application of the water balance equation revealed that a large quantity of water is lost through deep percolation (52% of total water supplied). {T}he study focuses on {C}itrus trees being a strategic crop with important socio-economic values in the {S}ouss-{M}assa region. {T}hus, the results should support both scientists and farmers in planning and strategy development.},
  keywords = {{A}gricultural water management ; {C}rop coefficients ; {E}nergy and water balance ; {I}rrigation scheduling ; {M}editerranean climate ; {S}oil-plant-atmosphere continuum ; {MAROC} ; {ZONE} {MEDITERRANEENNE}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{A}gricultural {W}ater {M}anagement},
  volume = {275},
  numero = {},
  pages = {107997 [14 p.]},
  ISSN = {0378-3774},
  year = {2023},
  DOI = {10.1016/j.agwat.2022.107997},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010086458},
}