Abstract
CONTEXT Efficient irrigation management must consider multiple aspects of cropping systems, such as productivity, water use efficiency , and economic viability. Crop simulation models like AquaCrop are essential tools for analyzing crop responses under different irrigation scenarios. Organizing the model's outputs into standardized parameters allows for a multi-objective evaluation, which can be consolidated into a single index for optimizing irrigation strategies. OBJECTIVE This study aims to formalize the response of processing tomato cropping systems in Southern Italy to various irrigation regimes and develop a framework to identify optimal irrigation volumes for production, water use efficiency, and economic returns. METHODS AquaCrop was used to assess the effects of different seasonal water supplies on dry yield, water use efficiency, and irrigation water use efficiency. Sustainability was evaluated via the blue water footprint and drainage, while economic sustainability was measured through net income and irrigation economic efficiency. A multi-objective evaluation framework was built, developed to consolidate performance indices into a single multi-aggregated index ( I mobj ). The AquaCrop model was calibrated and validated using field data, with high accuracy in simulating canopy cover, biomass, and dry yield ( NRMSE < 30 %, r > 0.90, and d > 0.97). Polynomial regression was used to model the relationships between irrigation volumes and cropping system variables. Each variable was assigned a truth value ( TW i ), derived from regression coefficients, statistical significance, and model fit. These values were normalized using a sigmoid function and consolidated into the I mobj index, providing an overall measure of irrigation performance. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS AquaCrop accurately simulated canopy cover, biomass, and dry yield. Multi-objective analysis showed yield and profitability were most sensitive to irrigation changes, followed by drainage, blue water footprint, and water use efficiency. The 500 mm irrigation regime yielded the highest productivity and profitability but negatively impacted water use efficiency and environmental sustainability. Irrigation volumes above 500 mm worsened all water-related variables, while volumes of 400 mm reduced profitability but improved the sustainability. The I mobj index identified that irrigation between 300 mm and 400 mm provided the best trade-off across all evaluated variables. SIGNIFICANCE This study highlights the value of integrating crop productivity, economic viability, and sustainability into irrigation management. The proposed framework, combined with AquaCrop, offers a holistic tool for optimizing irrigation strategies in agriculture . It emphasizes the need for balanced irrigation that not only maximizes yield but also enhances resource efficiency and environmental sustainability.
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Claims 14
Claim · model-written summary
AquaCrop simulated canopy cover accurately with reported validation metrics.
Verbatim
e0“with high accuracy in simulating canopy cover, biomass, and dry yield ( NRMSE < 30 %, r > 0.90, and d > 0.97)”
t0“processing tomato”
Claim · model-written summary
AquaCrop simulated biomass accurately with reported validation metrics.
Verbatim
e0“with high accuracy in simulating canopy cover, biomass, and dry yield ( NRMSE < 30 %, r > 0.90, and d > 0.97)”
t0“processing tomato”
Claim · model-written summary
AquaCrop simulated dry yield accurately with reported validation metrics.
Verbatim
e0“with high accuracy in simulating canopy cover, biomass, and dry yield ( NRMSE < 30 %, r > 0.90, and d > 0.97)”
t0“processing tomato”
Claim · model-written summary
Yield was the most sensitive variable to irrigation change.
Not reportedDirection
Verbatim
e0“yield and profitability were most sensitive to irrigation changes, followed by drainage, blue water footprint, and water use efficiency”
t0“processing tomato”
Claim · model-written summary
Profitability was among the variables most sensitive to irrigation change.
Not reportedDirection
Verbatim
e0“yield and profitability were most sensitive to irrigation changes, followed by drainage, blue water footprint, and water use efficiency”
t0“processing tomato”
Claim · model-written summary
Drainage, blue water footprint, and water use efficiency followed yield and profitability in irrigation sensitivity.
- Taxon
- processing tomatot0
- Treatment
- irrigationt1
- Outcome
- drainage, blue water footprint, and water use efficiencye0
Not reportedDirection
Verbatim
e0“followed by drainage, blue water footprint, and water use efficiency”
t0“processing tomato”
t1“most sensitive to irrigation changes”
Claim · model-written summary
The 500 mm regime produced the highest productivity.
Not reportedComparator
Verbatim
e0“The 500 mm irrigation regime yielded the highest productivity and profitability”
t0“processing tomato”
Claim · model-written summary
The 500 mm regime produced the highest profitability.
Not reportedComparator
Verbatim
e0“The 500 mm irrigation regime yielded the highest productivity and profitability”
t0“processing tomato”
Claim · model-written summary
The 500 mm regime negatively impacted water use efficiency.
- Taxon
- processing tomatot0
- Treatment
- 500 mm irrigation regimet1
- Outcome
- water use efficiencye0
- Direction
- negatively impactede0
Not reportedComparator
Verbatim
e0“but negatively impacted water use efficiency and environmental sustainability”
t0“processing tomato”
t1“500 mm irrigation regime”
Claim · model-written summary
The 500 mm regime negatively impacted environmental sustainability.
- Taxon
- processing tomatot0
- Treatment
- 500 mm irrigation regimet1
- Outcome
- environmental sustainabilitye0
- Direction
- negatively impactede0
Not reportedComparator
Verbatim
e0“but negatively impacted water use efficiency and environmental sustainability”
t0“processing tomato”
t1“500 mm irrigation regime”
Claim · model-written summary
Irrigation above 500 mm worsened all water-related variables.
- Taxon
- processing tomatot0
- Treatment
- Irrigation volumes above 500 mme0
- Outcome
- water-related variablese0
- Direction
- worsenede0
Not reportedComparator
Verbatim
e0“Irrigation volumes above 500 mm worsened all water-related variables”
t0“processing tomato”
Claim · model-written summary
Irrigation of 400 mm reduced profitability.
Not reportedComparator
Verbatim
e0“volumes of 400 mm reduced profitability but improved the sustainability”
t0“processing tomato”
Claim · model-written summary
Irrigation of 400 mm improved sustainability.
Not reportedComparator
Verbatim
e0“volumes of 400 mm reduced profitability but improved the sustainability”
t0“processing tomato”
Claim · model-written summary
The multiobjective index selected 300 to 400 mm as the best tradeoff among evaluated variables.
Verbatim
e0“The I mobj index identified that irrigation between 300 mm and 400 mm provided the best trade-off across all evaluated variables”
t0“processing tomato”
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