Abstract. AquaCrop is a crop simulation model developed by the FAO aimed at assessing the yield response to water supply. Once the model is calibrated and validated, it is a useful tool to simulate crop yields under different management options or climatic and soil conditions. Until now, AquaCrop has not been parameterized for dry beans ( L.), and thus our objective was to calibrate and validate the model for this crop using experiments performed 40 years ago at Davis, California. A set of parameters derived from the calibration with one irrigation experiment was used to validate the model using five experiments carried out in 1977 and 1978 that had treatments vastly differing in irrigation depth and frequency. Yield predictions over a wide range of values (<1 to 3.5 t ha-1) were very good, with RMSE of 0.16 t ha-1 and Willmott’s d of 0.978. Seasonal ET was also accurately predicted by the model (RMSE = 40 mm, d = 0.930), as also evidenced by comparing the lysimeter measured ET of 489 mm against the lysimeter simulated ET of 501 mm. Canopy cover and the time course of biomass were adequately simulated as well. Even though total soil water extraction was well simulated, the simulated soil water distribution with depth differed from measured values in the dryland treatment. We conclude that AquaCrop can now be used for the simulation of dry beans in different environments, and we emphasize the value of carefully conducted field experiments for the validation of crop simulation models. Keywords: AquaCrop, Calibration and validation, Dry beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), Irrigation, Simulation model, Water stress.
Vermicompost and water stress effects on dry beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.): productive parameters and water relations
