Calibration and validation of the AquaCrop model for forage cactus production systems under different management interventions in the semi-arid region of Brazil

• Published in: Physics and chemistry of the earth. Parts A/B/C Vol. 136; p. 103716
• Main Authors: Costa, Sidney Anderson Teixeira da, Souza, Luciana Sandra Bastos de, Montenegro, Abelardo Antônio de Assunção, Souza, Carlos André Alves de, Morais, José Edson Florentino de, Lopes, Daniela de Carvalho, Steidle Neto, Antonio José, Santos, João Pedro Alves de Souza, Jardim, Alexandre Maniçoba da Rosa Ferraz, Alves, Cleber Pereira, Silva, Marcos Vinícius da, Silva, Thieres George Freire da
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.12.2024
• Subjects: Agricultural resilience; Modelling; Opuntia stricta; Water techniques; Water techniques; Agricultural resilience; Modelling; Opuntia stricta
• ISSN: 1474-7065
• DOI: 10.1016/j.pce.2024.103716

Simulation models are useful tools for estimating plant response and contributing to the development of management strategies and yield predictions in crops. This study aimed to calibrate and evaluate the AquaCrop-FAO model for the forage cactus imposed on different cropping systems in the semi-arid region of Brazil. Four experiments were conducted: cactus-sorghum intercropping system with five spacings between plants (0.10, 0.20, 0.30, 0.40 and 0.50 m); cactus-sorghum intercropping system with five spacings between rows (1.00, 1.25, 1.50 and 1.75 m); single cactus with four levels of mulch (0, 5, 10 and 15 Mg ha−1); and single forage cactus with four levels of nitrogen fertilisation (50, 150, 300 and 450 kg of N ha−1). The performance of the model was evaluated using the following parameters: root mean squared error (RMSE); normalised RMSE (NRMSE), coefficients of determination (R2), Nash-Sutcliffe model efficiency coefficient (ME) and the Willmott index of agreement (d). During the calibration stage, the statistical indices pointed to the good performance of the AquaCrop model in estimating dry biomass in most of the cropping systems, with 10 < NRMSE <20; R2 > 0.96 and ME > 0.95. The AquaCrop model showed the best performance simulating systems under different levels of nitrogen fertilisation. Among the intercropping systems, the denser arrangements showed the highest values for simulated biomass. •With adjustments, the AquaCrop model can be used for forage cactus.•More dense crops have higher water productivity values.•Cactus-sorghum intercropping promotes increased crop productivity in relation to the single crops.