The Effect of Spinach Planting Density on Normalized Water Productivity

The normalized water productivity parameter is one of the AquaCrop model’s input, upon which the crop biomass yield is simulated on a daily basis. The necessitate of this research is that the amount of normalized water productivity for spinach has not been determined so far. This research was carried out at the Abourihan Campus farm of the University of Tehran which is located in Pakdasht. The experiments were performed during cultivation year of 2017-2018 with six planting densities of 12, 16, 17, 22, 25 and 33 plants per square meter and four replications with full irrigation. The biomass yield was measured seven times during the cultivation season. Considering the measured data of biomass and relative transpiration, the normalized water productivity was obtained for five treatments. The highest amount of normalized water productivity (12.4 g/m2) was related to 25 plants per square meter density. A relationship function was found using normalized water productivity and planting density data. This function was tested using the remaining treatment and placing the normalized water productivity in the Aqua Crop model. The mean root square error and the mean bias error between the measured and simulated data were 20.9 and 6.6 g/m2 at the test step. The results of this study showed that the planting density affects normalized water productivity and it is increased by increasing planting density (optimum density) and then it is decreased. Finally, this study suggests that the normalized water productivity regarding to planting density is entered to the AquaCrop model.