Optimization of Winter Wheat Irrigation in a Semi-arid Region: Application of the SIMDualKc Model for Efficient Water Management

Agricultural water management in arid and semi-arid regions faces significant challenges due to limited water availability, inefficient irrigation practices, and increasing pressures from climate change and food security concerns. Optimizing irrigation scheduling is crucial for improving water use efficiency and ensuring sustainable crop production. This study proposes an optimized irrigation strategy for winter wheat, tailored to its specific water requirements during different growth stages and under varying environmental conditions. By using the SIMDualKc model, the aim is to minimize water stress and deep percolation losses while enhancing crop water use and promoting sustainable irrigation practices. The evaluation of the soil water balance, taking into account irrigation amounts applied by farmers, revealed considerable water losses through deep percolation 435 mm for the F2 field under full irrigation, and 307 mm for the F1 field under deficit irrigation. Additionally, water stress was observed in the F1 field. These findings highlight the inefficiencies of conventional irrigation methods and emphasize the need for optimized scheduling. Application of the SIMDualKc model led to a 55% to 69% reduction in irrigation requirements for the F1 field under deficit irrigation and the F2 field under full deficit irrigation, respectively, compared to traditional practices. These improvements were achieved without inducing water stress or increasing percolation losses, demonstrating the model’s potential to significantly enhance irrigation efficiency by precisely adjusting water inputs to meet actual crop water needs.