Using cropsyst simulation model to predict wheat crop growth under different water and nitrogen regimes in a meddle Egypt type of environment (Giza region)‎

الملخص EN

The 'CropSyst' (Cropping Systems Simulation) Model is a multi-year, multi-crop, daily time step crop growth simulation model, linked to a weather generator ClimGin v 4 (Stockle, 1996) was evaluated for its ability to simulate growth, biomass and grain yield, water and nitrogen use of crop production of wheat cultivar (Giza 168) grown in Giza region.

Field experiment was conducted involving three water regimes (irrigating at 1.25, 1.00 and 0.75 evaporation pan coefficient EPC and three nitrogen levels (144, 180 and 216 kg N / ha) in Meddle Egypt environment (Giza region).

Data collected from two distinct growing seasons (2004 / 2005, 2005 / 2006) were used in Calibration / Validation model.

Then, the model was used to predict the aboveground biomass, grain yield and ET crop.

Results reveal that the CropSyst model was able to track the aboveground biomass, grain yield, ET crop and N uptake progress throughout the season when compared with observed data from the field experiments.

Statistical analysis showed a high correlation between simulated versus observed data with values of correlation coefficient (R2) between 0.93 and 0.99.

Running simulation showed that increasing soil water increased simulated aboveground biomes, grain yield and ET crop while N uptake was not affected by increasing soil water.

Yields were positively affected by increased N-level and maximum simulated values were obtained at 216 kg N / ha but the ET crop increase was limited.

In general, the CropSyst model was useful to use particularly in the long term cropping system and climate change strategy.

However future research should be done to evaluate the model for a wider use and different conditions and regions Limited.