1.College of Water Conservancy and Architectural Engineering,Shihezi University,Shihezi,Xinjiang 832000,China
2.Key Laboratory of Modern Water-Saving Irrigation of Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps,Shihezi University,Shihezi,Xinjiang 832000,China
3.Technology Innovation Center for Agricultural Water and Fertilizer Efficiency Equipment of Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps,Shihezi,Xinjiang 832000,China
4.Key Laboratory of Northwest Oasis Water-Saving Agriculture,Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs,Shihezi,Xinjiang 832000,China
5.Yili Vocational and Technical College,Yining,Xinjiang 835000,China
Objective This study aims to evaluate the applicability of the AquaCrop model for simulating the growth and production of maize under mulched drip irrigation in Xinjiang's Ili region, and to investigate the optimal irrigation during the maize growth period, thereby providing a reference for farmers' irrigation decision-making to enhance maize yield and water use efficiency. Methods Using the experimental data of maize under mulched drip irrigation from the experimental plots in the South Bank Irrigation Area of Ili from 2020 to 2021, the AquaCrop model was calibrated and validated. The validated model was then used to analyze the effects of three types of precipitation years (wet, normal, and dry years) and eight irrigation levels (ranging from 4 000 to 5 400 m3/hm2) on maize growth, yield, and water use efficiency. Results The model was calibrated and validated using field experimental data of maize canopy cover, aboveground biomass, yield, and water use efficiency. The comparison showed good consistency between simulated and measured values, indicating a satisfactory simulation performance. The simulation showed that with increasing irrigation quota, maize yield exhibited a nonlinear trend of increasing initially, then decreasing, and finally increasing again. Under the same irrigation conditions, crop yield was significantly affected by precipitation year types. Conclusion Based on simulations of 24 irrigation scenarios and aiming for water saving and high yield, the optimal irrigation amount for maize in the Ili River region is recommended as 4 400 m3/hm2 in wet years, which can achieve a yield of 14.33 t/hm2 and a water use efficiency of 29.73 kg/(hm2·mm). In both normal and dry years, the optimal irrigation amount is 5 400 m³/hm², with yields and water use efficiencies reaching 14.375 t/hm² and 29.91 kg/(hm2·mm) in normal years, and 13.458 t/hm2 and 28.96 kg/(hm2·mm) in dry years, respectively. These findings provide valuable experience for applying the AquaCrop model to simulate drip-irrigated maize in the Ili region and offer scientific guidance for achieving water-saving and high-yield maize production under mulched drip irrigation in this region.
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