Evaluation of AquaCrop model for two rangeland species (Hordeum murinum and Medicago polymorpha) in Shimbar protected area, Khuzestan

    Modeling the growth stages of plant species and its relation with environmental factors, especially climatic and edaphic changes, can lead to appropriate management and conservation plans for rangeland rehabilitation and improvement. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the AquaCrop model for two species (Medicago polymorpha L., Hordeum murinum subsp. glaucum (Staud.)Tzvelev) in the Shimbar protected area. Therefore, model evaluation was performed based on the data recorded during 2013-2015. Coefficient of determination (R2), absolute and normalized root mean square error (RMSE, NRMSE), Willmott agreement index (d) and Efficiency Coefficient (EF) were used to compare the simulated data with the data of the second year. The evaluation of AquaCrop model for canopy cover and biomass in selected species demonstrated that the model had the necessary efficiency for simulation. The values of R2, EF, and, d recorded for the canopy cover and biomass of Medicago polymorpha and Hordeum murinum subsp. glaucum were near 1. The values of RMSE calculated for canopy cover and biomass were between 1 to 3.7 and 0.03 to 0.23, respectively.