AquaCrop

AquaCrop is a crop growth simulation model developed by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). It quantifies the effects of water management, soil characteristics, and weather conditions on crop yield and water productivity. The model is designed to simulate the growth of canopy, soil water balance, and biomass production for various agricultural crops. AquaCrop is particularly useful for assessing the impact of climate change and water scarcity on rainfed and irrigated agriculture.

The core of AquaCrop is its ability to simulate daily soil water balance, considering precipitation, irrigation, evaporation, transpiration, and drainage. It also accounts for the crop's phenological development, including canopy expansion, senescence, and biomass partitioning. The model requires a set of input data, including weather data (temperature, rainfall, solar radiation), soil properties (texture, hydraulic conductivity, water holding capacity), crop genetic coefficients, and management practices (planting date, sowing density, irrigation scheduling).

AquaCrop has been widely used by researchers, policymakers, and extension agents worldwide for various applications. These include evaluating the impact of different irrigation strategies, assessing the potential of drought-tolerant crop varieties, analyzing the effects of climate variability on crop production, and supporting water resource management decisions. The model is open-source and freely available, contributing to its broad adoption and continuous development. Its simplicity and robustness make it a valuable tool for understanding complex crop-water-environment interactions.