Calibration and Validation of the Aqua-Crop Model under Full and Deficit Irrigated

Abstract

In the face of growing water scarcity, declining water quality, and the uncertainties of climate change, improving the efficiency and productivity of crop water use, while simultaneously reducing negative environmental impacts, is of utmost importance in responding to the increasing food demand of growing Egypt’s population. Agricultural water because it is the key factor for increasing crop water productivity. Therefore, the objective of this research is to improve irrigation water use efficiency by providing better information on how much and when farmers should apply to optimize distribution uniformity and application efficiency through better system management by producing more food with less water. Cor-water models are useful tools for agricultural water management and efficient irrigation scheduling to mitigate climate change and increase the Irrigation Application Efficiency (Ea) and Crop Water Productivity (CWP).AquaCrop model was evaluated under irrigated sugar beet crops with different water regimes (100, 80 and 60% potential evapotranspiration (ETp) throughout the successful winter growth season (2017/2018) under pressurized irrigation systems (surface drip-irrigation system and fixed-sprinkler irrigation). The total cultivated area with sugar beet in Nubaria region is about 95,000 ha, therefore, applying 20% deficit drip irrigation strategy in the region would lead to water saving by about 184.3 million cubic meters which enough for increasing the cultivated area by about 30,000 ha (about to 30%).