Evaluation of the CRITERIA Irrigation Scheme Soil Water Balance Model in TexasInitial Results

CRITERIA is a soil water balance model which is currently being evaluated in Italy for irrigation scheduling in irrigation schemes. The model predicts soil moisture status on a daily basis. Required input data includes weather conditions, soil hydrological properties, and crop management data. The model requires some calibration using a combination of measured soil water characteristics and actual ET, although the model has algorithms to estimate these in the absence of site specific information. This paper reports the results of an initial evaluation of CRITERIA for Texas conditions. The model is compared to actual data from two distinct climatic regions: the High Plans and the semi-tropical Lower Rio Grande Valley. Predictive and observed soil moisture data are compared for each case at several different depths, as well as model accuracy at different levels of calibration and input data. The model is also evaluated for use in an irrigation district where irrigation requirements are simultaneously simulated for many fields with different crops and water management strategies. Results show that the model is a very useful tool for irrigation scheduling. Good results were obtained, especially when the model was calibrated using soil moisture measured with a neutron probe and with other observed data. 2011 ASCE.

Evaluation of the CRITERIA Irrigation Scheme Soil Water Balance Model in TexasInitial Results Conference Paper