Crop water requirements model tested for crops grown in Greece

A model for estimating crop water requirements throughout crop development is presented. The model assumes horizontal uniformity and treats the two-component system of canopy and soil along the lines of . Incorporated in the model is a 3-layer soil water budget allowing evaluation of the soil surface and canopy resistances and time evolution of the soil moisture in the root zone. Canopy interception is also taken into account. Model parameterization considered mostly the crop canopy resistance, assuming neutral atmospheric stability conditions, whereas parameterization of the aerodynamic resistances allows for smooth transition from bare soil to a fully developed crop canopy. The model has been validated with meteorological (temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, net radiation flux density, solar radiation flux density and soil heat flux density, precipitation or irrigation) and crop (height, leaf area index and root depth) data collected from experimental fields of the Agricultural University of Athens (38°23′ N, 23°06′ E). Results were verified for three crops (cotton, wheat and maize) against soil moisture profile changes with very satisfactory results. Agreement between observed and estimated evapotranspiration is within 8%. The model is sensitive to crop type and time evolution of the root zone penetration into soil while precise determination of the minimum stomata resistance is not exclusively important.