Assessment of the AquaCrop model for use in simulation of irrigated winter wheat canopy cover, biomass, and grain yield in the North China Plain.
Improving winter wheat water use efficiency in the North China Plain (NCP), China is essential in light of current irrigation water shortages. In this study, the AquaCrop model was used to calibrate, and validate winter wheat crop performance under various planting dates and irrigation application rates. All experiments were conducted at the Xiaotangshan experimental site in Beijing, China, during seasons of 2008/2009, 2009/2010, 2010/2011 and 2011/2012. This model was first calibrated using data from 2008/2009 and 2009/2010, and subsequently validated using data from 2010/2011 and 2011/2012. The results showed that the simulated canopy cover (CC), biomass yield (BY) and grain yield (GY) were consistent with the measured CC, BY and GY, with corresponding coefficients of determination (R(2)) of 0.93, 0.91 and 0.93, respectively. In addition, relationships between BY, GY and transpiration (T), (R(2) = 0.57 and 0.71, respectively) was observed. These results suggest that frequent irrigation with a small amount of water significantly improved BY and GY. Collectively, these results indicate that the AquaCrop model can be used in the evaluation of various winter wheat irrigation strategies. The AquaCrop model predicted winter wheat CC, BY and GY with acceptable accuracy. Therefore, we concluded that AquaCrop is a useful decision-making tool for use in efforts to optimize wheat winter planting dates, and irrigation strategies.
Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Physiology of Jiangsu Province, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China ; Beijing Research Center for Information Technology in Agriculture, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing, China ; National Engineering Research Center for Information Technology in Agriculture, Beijing, China.
Xiu-liang
XL
Jin
Beijing Research Center for Information Technology in Agriculture, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing, China ; National Engineering Research Center for Information Technology in Agriculture, Beijing, China.
Hai-kuan
HK
Feng
Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Physiology of Jiangsu Province, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China.
Xin-kai
XK
Zhu
Beijing Research Center for Information Technology in Agriculture, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing, China ; National Engineering Research Center for Information Technology in Agriculture, Beijing, China.
Zhen-hai
ZH
Li
Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Physiology of Jiangsu Province, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China ; Beijing Research Center for Information Technology in Agriculture, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing, China ; National Engineering Research Center for Information Technology in Agriculture, Beijing, China.
Sen-nan
SN
Song
Beijing Research Center for Information Technology in Agriculture, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing, China ; National Engineering Research Center for Information Technology in Agriculture, Beijing, China.
Xiao-yu
XY
Song
Beijing Research Center for Information Technology in Agriculture, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing, China ; National Engineering Research Center for Information Technology in Agriculture, Beijing, China.
Gui-Jun
GJ
Yang
Beijing Research Center for Information Technology in Agriculture, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing, China ; National Engineering Research Center for Information Technology in Agriculture, Beijing, China.
Xin-gang
XG
Xu
Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Physiology of Jiangsu Province, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China.
Wen-shan
WS
Guo
D057914:Agricultural Irrigation; D018533:Biomass; D002138:Calibration; D002681:China; D003198:Computer Simulation; D017753:Ecosystem; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000502:physiology*; D018526:Plant Transpiration / Q000502:physiology; D011891:Rain; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012621:Seasons; D012639:Seeds / Q000254:growth & development*; D012987:Soil; D014908:Triticum / Q000254:growth & development*; D014867:Water
D012987:Soil; D014867:Water