AquaCrop-OS: An open source version of FAO’s crop water productivity model

Authors

T. Foster, University of ManchesterFollow
N. Brozovic, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
A. P. Butler, Imperial CollegeFollow
C. M. U. Neale, University of Nebraska - LincolnFollow
D. Raes, Division of Soil & Water Management
P. Steduto, Land and Water Division
E. Fereres, University of Cordoba
T. C. Hsiao, University of California, Davis

ORCID IDs

N. Brozovic

Date of this Version

2017

Document Type

Article

Citation

Agricultural Water Management 181 (2017), pp. 18–22.

Comments

Copyright © 2016 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license.

Abstract

Crop simulation models are valuable tools for quantifying crop yield response to water, and for devising strategies to improve agricultural water management. However, applicability of the majority of crop models is limited greatly by a failure to provide open-access to model source code. In this study, we present an open-source version of the FAO AquaCrop model, which simulates efficiently water-limited crop production across diverse environmental and agronomic conditions. Our model, called AquaCrop-OpenSource (AquaCrop-OS), can be run in multiple programming languages and operating systems. Support for parallel execution reduces significantly simulation times when applying the model in large geospatial frameworks, for long-run policy analysis, or for uncertainty assessment. Furthermore, AquaCrop-OS is compliant with the Open Modelling Interface standard facilitating linkage to other disciplinary models, for example to guide integrated water resources planning.