Model Validation of Aqua Crop for Brinjal (Solanum melongena) Crop at Madakasira Region, Anantapur District, Andhra Pradesh

Abstract

Crop simulation models plays a vital role for estimating the effects of soil, water, nutrients on grain and biomass yields and water productivity of different crops. Among the various crop simulation models, Aqua Crop model was adopted for the predicting the crop water requirement in the Madakasira region, Anantapur district, Andhra Pradesh. The Brinjal crop was selected for the study and was irrigated through two different methods i.e., drip and flood irrigation. The model generated the crop yield and crop water requirement for the drip and flood irrigation of Brinjal crop was compared with the actual field results of crop yield and crop water requirement. The simulated crop yield and crop water requirement for the Brinjal crop under flood irrigation was 5.23 t/ha and 326 mm. The actual crop yield and crop water requirement for the Brinjal crop under flood irrigation was 4.2 t/ha and 335 mm. The simulated crop yield and crop water requirement for the Brinjal crop under Drip irrigation was 5.76 t/ha and 318.3 mm.  The actual crop yield and crop water requirement for the Brinjal crop under drip irrigation was 4.8 t/ha and 290 mm.  From the results, it was clear that the model simulated the actual conditions of the crop. The benefit cost ratio was done for the experimental field data which clearly shows that the crop yield under drip irrigation has achieved the higher cost benefit ratio. Therefore, Aqua Crop model was suitable for simulating the crop conditions under any circumstances.