Performance assessment of the FAO AquaCrop model for irrigated cabbage on farmer plots in a semi-arid environment

Wellens, Joost; Raes, Dirk; Traore, Farid; Denis, Antoine; Djaby, Bakary; Tychon, Bernard

doi:10.1016/j.agwat.2013.05.012

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Article (Scientific journals)

Performance assessment of the FAO AquaCrop model for irrigated cabbage on farmer plots in a semi-arid environment

Wellens, Joost; Raes, Dirk; Traore, Farid et al.

2013 • In Agricultural Water Management, 127, p. 40-47

Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi

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https://hdl.handle.net/2268/150443

DOI
10.1016/j.agwat.2013.05.012

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Keywords :

AquaCrop model; Calibration; Validation; Cabbage; Yield simulation; Soil water content simulation; Irrigation

Abstract :

[en] Small-scale irrigation initiatives are expanding rapidly in Burkina Faso. However, in many cases optimal yields are not being obtained despite the available water and the required nutrient applications. Local stakeholders need an easy-to-use decision-support tool to assess irrigation water use and its impact on yield. In this study, a water-driven crop model, AquaCrop, developed by FAO, was adapted for cabbage (Brassica oleracea L.) using a limited dataset and leave-one-out cross-validation (LOOCV). The experiment was conducted in south-western Burkina Faso on small irrigated farmer plots, where optimal managerial conditions could not always be guaranteed. Statistical indicators – normalized root mean square error (nRMSE) and index of agreement (d) – suggested that the model is very reliable for simulating cabbage biomass yield and soil water content (low nRMSE and d-index near 1). The relationship between observed and simulated yield produced a d-index of 0.99 and an nRMSE of 1.39% (or 0.59 ton/ha). The comparison between observed and modeled soil water content gave a d-index of 0.90 and an nRMSE of 4.38% (or 9.13 mm). Also of interest was the indirect link between plant density and yield via maximum canopy cover, which can considerably simplify yield estimation. It was concluded that AquaCrop was a very useful tool for enabling local end-users to evaluate and optimize cabbage yield and irrigation water use.

Research Center/Unit :

Université de Liège, Département Sciences et Gestion de l’Environnement, Arlon, Belgium

Disciplines :

Agriculture & agronomy

Author, co-author :

Wellens, Joost ; Université de Liège - ULiège > DER Sc. et gest. de l'environnement (Arlon Campus Environ.) > DER Sc. et gest. de l'environnement (Arlon Campus Environ.)

Raes, Dirk; K.U. Leuven University, Leuven, Belgium > Division of Soil and Water Management

Traore, Farid ; Institut de l’Environnement et de Recherches Agricoles, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

Denis, Antoine ; Université de Liège - ULiège > DER Sc. et gest. de l'environnement (Arlon Campus Environ.) > DER Sc. et gest. de l'environnement (Arlon Campus Environ.)

Djaby, Bakary ; Université de Liège - ULiège > DER Sc. et gest. de l'environnement (Arlon Campus Environ.) > DER Sc. et gest. de l'environnement (Arlon Campus Environ.)

Tychon, Bernard ; Université de Liège - ULiège > DER Sc. et gest. de l'environnement (Arlon Campus Environ.) > Agrométéorologie (relation agriculture-environ. physique)

Language :

English

Title :

Performance assessment of the FAO AquaCrop model for irrigated cabbage on farmer plots in a semi-arid environment

Publication date :

September 2013

Journal title :

Agricultural Water Management

ISSN :

0378-3774

eISSN :

1873-2283

Publisher :

Elsevier, Netherlands

Volume :

127

Pages :

40-47

Peer reviewed :

Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi

Name of the research project :

GEeau - Renforcement des capacités à concevoir et à mettre en oeuvre des outils de gestion de l'eau à usage agricole - Burkina Faso

Funders :

APEFE - Association pour la Promotion de l'Éducation et de la Formation à l'Étranger

Available on ORBi :

since 14 June 2013

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