Abstract
Faba bean (Vicia faba L.) is an important pulse crop known for its nitrogen-fixing characteristics and as a disease-break crop in crop rotations. Sowing time, scheduling of supplemental irrigation, and sowing rate are some of the agronomic managements which affect faba bean growth and yield. The effect of these on faba bean yield can be evaluated using calibrated models. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) AquaCrop model was calibrated and tested using two-year experimental data of different watering regimes, sowing dates, and sowing rates in a semiarid environment of South-Eastern Australia. AquaCrop adequately simulated the green canopy cover (CC), biomass development, grain yield, and soil water dynamics under different agronomic management conditions. AquaCrop simulated faba bean yield with 3% deviation, root mean square error (RMSE) of 0.49 t ha−1, normalised root mean square error (NRMSE) of 12.4%, index of agreement (d) of 0.95, and R2 of 0.86. The CC was simulated with RMSE of 14.1%, R2 of 0.85, and d of 0.90. The above-ground dry matter was predicted with RMSE of 2.6 t ha−1, R2 of 0.95, and d of 0.93. Except for end-of-season values, the total soil water was also adequately simulated at RMSE of 21 mm, R2 of 0.89, and d of 0.87. The response of faba bean to supplemental irrigation, sowing time, and sowing rate was adequately simulated by the calibrated model. AquaCrop is a valuable decision support tool for predicting faba bean growth, yield, and soil water dynamics under different agronomic managements.
Highlights
Faba bean is a major legume crop in many regions of the world
AquaCrop was able to predict the impacts of different management decisions on crop growth, yield, and resource use reasonably well
From the results of this study, it is possible to suggest that AquaCrop could be used to predict crop growth, grain yield, water productivity, and soil water dynamics with a reasonably high degree of confidence for various sowing dates, irrigation management strategies, and sowing rates
Summary
Faba bean is a major legume crop in many regions of the world. Management of limited-irrigation water for supplemental-irrigated faba beans, sowing time, and sowing rate are some of the management decisions which affect its growth and yield [4,5,6]. The decision to grow early or late season cultivars depends on the seasonal conditions such as soil moisture availability for timely sowing and potential heat and moisture stresses during the reproductive stage [7]. It is mainly cultivated under dryland/rainfed environments, faba bean responds well to irrigated or high rainfall environments
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
