Evaluation of SALTMED and AquaCrop models in simulating sweet maize yield under deficit irrigation and superabsorbent application

The objective of this study was to evaluate SALTMED and AquaCrop models for simulation of sweet maize yield under both deficit irrigation and superabsorbent applications. The experiment was carried out in a split plot design based on a completely randomized block design with 12 treatments and three replicates for both spring and summer cultivations. The proposed treatments consisted of irrigation water quantity at three levels (100%, 75%, and 50% plant water requirement) and different levels of superabsorbent A300 at four levels (0, 0.3, 0.6 and 0.8 gr/kg of soil). Results of statistical indexes including NRMSE, RMSE, MBE, EF and D for SALTMED model were 0.126, 0.587, 0.061, 0.92 and 0.91, respectively and for AquaCrop model were 0.155, 0.721 ton/ha, -0.090, 0.88 and 0.91 respectively. Finally, the results showed although the accuracy of SALTMED model was more than AquaCrop model, but the efficiency of both models for simulation of sweet maize yield was acceptable.