| Project Description |
This project explores an inverse modeling methodology using a biophysical model forced by observed satellite and climate data to quantify the irrigation water demand in semi-arid areas. We constrain the carbon and water cycles modeled under both equilibrium, balance between vegetation density and prevailing local climate and non-equilibrium, water added to irrigation, conditions. We postulate that the degree to which irrigated dry lands vary from equilibrium climate conditions is related to the amount of irrigation water used. The amount of water required over and above precipitation, if any, is considered as the minimum physiological water requirement.
The method estimates both the minimum physiological amount of water required to sustain unstressed photosynthetic production for crops and the total used for irrigation including agricultural efficiencies and losses. To calibrate and validate the approach, we need physiological parameters to characterize the different (major) crops.
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