Evaluation of Increasing Water Productivity Scenarios for Rain-Fed Wheat by Management Analysis of CropSyst Crop Model in Karkheh Basin

Momeni, Rezvaneh; Behbahani, Mahmoud Reza; Nazari Far, Mohammad Hadi; Azadegan, Behzad

Evaluation of Increasing Water Productivity Scenarios for Rain-Fed Wheat by Management Analysis of CropSyst Crop Model in Karkheh Basin

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Abstract

Water productivity is a function of crop yield and management operation. Determination of different yield levels through field experiments is difficult. Therefore, applying simulation model is an approach which makes possible to assess water balance, simulate growth process and survey different scenarios. Using the CropSyst crop growth model to analyze water productivity, as an indicator of water use efficiency (WUE) at the basin scale, and evaluation of management scenarios in Karkheh basin in west of Iran was studied. The vast range of WUE (0.27-0.45) in this region shows that less water expenditure is able to increase agricultural products. Results of model study showed that achieving of soil initial moisture to field capacity about 19.6%, leave total crop residues, early rainfall and sowing date in comparison with conventional conditions, and seed density (300 seeds/m2) are effective to increase water productivity and yield.

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